Y-Pulse and The Culinary Visions Panel collaborated to conduct a study with over 1,000 consumers to better understand the factors that drive snack purchase decisions for consumers in different age groups and life stages. Snacking behavior and motivation was studied across nine different away from home segments.
The focus of the study was on snacking behavior because younger consumers in particular eat more small meals or snacks throughout the day rather than traditional meals favored by their parents and grandparents. Overall, Millennial consumers do not care as much about defining an eating experience as a meal or snack as they do about satisfying their need to eat what they want, when and where they choose to eat it.
The Millennial generation includes consumers born between 1977 and 1994 who were 19 to 36 years old in 2013. This study took a closer look at younger Millennials, ages 19-25, middle Millennials, ages 26-30 and older Millennials, ages 31-36. Sharon Olson, executive director of Y-Pulse, notes, “As members of this large demographic group have matured, it has become important to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence their food decisions away from home. Young consumers who are still finishing college and living at home behave differently than those in transition to their own financial independence or those who are heads of their own households with young children.”
The study found that younger Millennials are snacking more often in the past year, yet they say they are also cooking at home more often in the past year. These younger Millennials have a “snack throughout the day” lifestyle rather than making a commitment to regular meals. Convenience stores are their venue of choice for snacks unless they are living on campus when they will choose the cafeteria more often.
Middle Millennials are snacking most during the late afternoon and before dinner. They are the group least likely to bring snacks from home. They favor convenience stores and quick service restaurants for their snack choices.
Older Millennials are snacking mid-morning and late afternoon at about the same amount as they did a year ago. This group enjoys cheese, nuts, and bakery items as snacks more than any other age group. They are also the most likely to bring snacks from home.
Of all Millennials studied, it was no surprise that 47 percent chose convenience stores and 39 percent chose quick service restaurants for where they purchase snacks most often. Yet 33 percent said they make their own snacks at home, and 20 percent said they purchase snacks at drug stores.
There are few gender differences among Millennials when it comes to their snacking choices. However, men are twice as likely to choose casual dining or fast casual restaurants for snacks, and they are more likely to go to workplace cafeterias, supermarket delis, and quick service venues than women. Women are making snacks at home almost twice as much as men, and they are going to drug stores and supermarket bakeries more than men.
Freshness trumped all other criteria when choosing a snack. Ninety-four percent of Millennials considered freshness important or very important. Craving (89 percent), comfort (86 percent) and healthfulness (83 percent) were also important criteria for consuming a snack.
