Generation X (aged 35-49) were found to favour strong, savoury flavours but be less adventurous with eating out venues, whilst baby boomers (aged 50-64) were found to be curry lovers and the most adventurous generation with hot and spicy flavours.
Eimear Owens, country sales manager at Santa Maria Foodservice, said: “Demographic changes will have a huge impact on the eating out market in the coming years. By 2025, 23% of the world’s population will be over 65.
“Our report shows that one size definitely doesn’t fit all when it comes to menu and concept development. Operators will have to be more flexible and, depending on their brand profile, will need to understand how to exploit the growth in ‘seniors’ who prefer familiar foods they know and love and capitalist on younger diners who see eating out as the new going out.”
The report also looked into the factors affecting respondents’ menu choices when eating out.
60% of war babies said menu description was the biggest factor in choosing a new dish to try, whilst roughly one third of millennials said their decision was spurred by social media recommendations and ‘foodie’ interests.
Spice rising
The report noted that that across all generations spices and bolder flavours were more popular now than they were three years ago.
Nearly half of all millennials claimed they liked spicy food more now than they did back then and 80% of baby boomers declared themselves fans of hot and spicy food, with Indian food polling in their top three cuisines when eating out.