Making sure a dish is delicious and craveable is only a small part of the equation. Here’s a look at what menu-making teams need to consider today, according to Technomic’s 2016 Generational Consumer Trend Report.
About two-thirds of Gen Zers and millennials follow foodservice via social media sites. Millennials’ preferred sites are Facebook and Twitter, while younger diners favor Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr.
Of all the food consumers order from restaurants, only 46% is for dine-in consumption; 38% is for takeout and 16% is for delivery. Millennials lead takeout orders and tie with Gen Zers for above-average reliance on delivery, according to the report.
More than any other group, Gen Z is drawn to brands offering healthy options, but definitions of health differ. Younger generations view “natural” and “organic” as healthy, compared to older diners who value “low-sodium” and “trans fat-free.”
Social responsibility—for example, sourcing of ingredients and fair treatment of animals—is equally important to Gen Xers, millennials and Gen Zers, though the younger two are most likely to cite sustainability as a driver, shows the Generational Report.