Social distancing restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak have dramatically impacted eating habits. As regulations and concerns surrounding the pandemic increased in 2020, many consumers in the United States and around the world adjusted to eating at home instead of in restaurants — leading to significant shifts in dining trends.
COVID Dining Journey: Eating at Home and Away From Home, a new report from Jacksonville, Florida-based Acosta, a sales and marketing services provider in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, explores the notable increase in the preference for at-home dining and provides predictions on post-Covid eating trends. Its findings suggest that 92% of American families plan to continue eating together at home at least as often as they do now, if not more often, after the pandemic ends.
“Eating at home became the norm during Covid-19. Our research found 31% of families have eaten dinner at home every day since Covid, compared to only 18% pre-pandemic. These shifts have significantly impacted the restaurant industry, leading to $240 billion in lost revenue and 110,000 restaurant closures, according to the National Restaurant Association,” said Colin Stewart, executive vice president for business intelligence at Acosta. “Post-Covid, shoppers believe eating together as a family will continue, and 20% even say that it will increase. Consumers supported restaurants during Covid via curbside pickup, drive-thruough and delivery options, but now that things are opening back up, timing for the return to indoor restaurant dining still remains to be seen. Thirty percent of those surveyed are not sure or think it will be longer than six months before they dine inside again.”
Acosta’s research provides insight into evolving eating trends and the impact of changing consumer behavior on the food and dining industries, as well as predictions for post-pandemic dining including:
Covid Consumer Dining Habits
- Since the pandemic, nearly two-thirds of shoppers report cooking at home more and eating far more meals at home all the time.
- Forty-seven percent of adults have eating breakfast at home every day since Covid vs. 37% pre-Covid.
- Fifty-three percent of children ate breakfast at home every day since the pandemic vs. 48% pre-Covid.
- Forty percent of adults ate lunch at home every day since the Covid outbreak vs. 26% pre-Covid
- Forty-eight percent of kids have eaten lunch at home every day since the coronavirus health crisis vs. 33% pre-Covid.
- Thirty-one percent of families ate dinner at home every day since the pandemic vs. 18% before the health crisis.
Post-Pandemic Eating Trends
•Research indicates that post-Covid, eating together as a family will stay the same for 72% of all households, and 20% of them expect to increase this behavior.
•When asked how long it will be until they eat inside a restaurant again, diners’ answers varied. Thirty percent of those surveyed are not sure or think it will be a while before they eat inside a restaurant again; 26% said they will be comfortable within the next week.
•When eating out in the future, diners will be looking for lower priced meal options, safety precautions, promotions and healthy options.
• Fifty-one percent of diners will value lower prices the most when eating in restaurants, while 43% will value promotions and limited offers the most when eating in restaurants.
• Thirty-eight percent of diners will value increased safety features the most when eating in restaurants; 37% will value healthier options, including high protein, lower sugar or sugar-free, low calorie and locally grown meal choices the most when eating in restaurants.
Acosta’s Covid Dining Journey: Eating at Home and Away from Home report was gathered via online surveys using the company’s proprietary shopper community, conducted between March and April 2021.
