OREANDA-NEWS. September 30, 2016. While today’s consumers certainly scrutinize the foods that fill their pantries, they aren’t just eating at home. In fact, eating out isn’t just for special occasions; it’s a way of life for nearly half of global respondents (48%), who say they eat at restaurants or other out-of-home dining establishments weekly or more often. Respondents in Asia-Pacific and North America are particularly avid out-of-home diners.

Rise and shiners, not rise and diners

Dinner and lunch are the meals that respondents most commonly eat away from home, while fewer say they eat breakfast outside the home. But this trend may be changing in some markets. For example, respondents in the U.S. are more likely than the global average to say they eat breakfast at a restaurant (21% versus 16% globally), and many establishments are capitalizing on this by introducing convenient offerings for busy consumers who have little time for a formal meal. Coffee shops are expanding their menus to include more breakfast options, while some quick-service restaurants have introduced breakfast service or made their breakfast offerings available all day.

“Breakfast has been a growth driver for some fast-food and quick-service dining establishments, but it represents a strong growth opportunity for retailers as well,” said Andrew Mandzy, Director of Strategic Health and Wellness Insights, Nielsen. “To win at breakfast, retailers should focus on healthfulness and convenience. Consumers often have less time for meal planning and preparation in the morning, but quality, taste and freshness remain critical. And products that pack a healthful benefit are even better positioned to succeed. For example, while the ready-to-eat cereals category is declining in the U.S., the gluten-free, GMO-free and no-high-fructose-corn-syrup cereal sub-segments are growing.”