YouGov report claims provenance key for many consumers
YouGov report claims provenance key for many consumers
A recent report by YouGov SixthSense in to consumers’ attitudes towards food provenance has found that the origin of their food is the key consideration for the majority of UK consumers buying meat and poultry products.
According to the report 59% of consumers prefer to buy UK-sourced meat and poultry compared to imported meat. Price is the main consideration when buying meat and poultry products for 39% of consumers.
Most consumers buy meat and poultry on a habitual basis with two-thirds (66%) regularly opting for the same products. Nearly half (48%) prefer to buy locally sourced products when they can. Awareness of the source of products seems relatively high with a quarter (25%) happy to pay more for locally sourced products, with a 34% of consumers buying meat based on its national origin.
Supermarkets
Supermarkets dominate food retailing in the UK and this is apparent across all categories, around three-quarters of consumers purchase meat (74%), or poultry (78%) from the major multiples. However, one in five (20%) respondents say that they make the effort to buy meat and poultry at retailers other than supermarkets in order to get locally reared products.
Consumers feel supermarkets could do more for local food producers. 45% of consumers think supermarkets should make more of an effort to sell locally sourced foods, 40% think supermarkets should sell more foods produced within the UK, and 31% of consumers claim that they would buy more locally sourced foods at the supermarket if they knew it was available.
When it comes to attitudes to locally sourced food in general 79% of consumers believe locally sourced foods support the local economy, 50% believe it is better quality as it has not ‘travelled’ as far, and 31% would be more inclined to eat at a restaurant or pub that has locally sourced food on its menu, with a 27% going as far as saying locally sourced food on a menu influences their meal choices.
Commenting on the findings YouGov consumer consultingdirector Rob Cushen said: “Our research clearly shows that there is demand for locally, regionally and UK-produced foods. The question is to what extent food and drink manufacturers are successfully promoting the provenance of their ranges through advertising and packaging. In order to capture this opportunity fully, food and drink companies need to review and research their current and future packaging and test whether the right messages are being picked up by consumers.”
