Lunch remains most frequented daypart for food-to-go: IGD
However, drinking occasions have beaten lunch in standalone visits.
Food-to-go customers have spent more time during lunch and drink occasions in the second quarter of this year, with sandwiches/cold wraps and soft drinks being the top purchases in over half of all food-to-go visits.
IGD’s latest ShopperVista stats revealed that lunch occasions were at 72% in Q2 2019, slightly up compared to last quarter’s 70%. Similar to Q1, this was followed by respondents buying drinks (65%), evenings (63%).
Snacking and leisure occasions remained the same at 52% and 49%, respectively. Breakfast occasions remained last with 36%, identical to its average percentage score in 2018 and Q1 percentage.
Drinking occasions beat lunch in terms of standalone food-to-go visits, with 60% in Q2 2019 compared to 52% in the previous quarter. Lunch was slightly up, with 57%, followed by breakfast (50%), snack (44%) and evening occasions (35%).
Soft drinks remain the winner for the drink occasion, with 68% buying the said category in their last visit, followed by hot drinks at 50%. 39% of the respondents said that they purchased soft drinks during their last visits. Sandwiches and cold wraps also remain the top buys for lunch, making up 65% of visits.
Evening meal visits continue to have the most distinct profile, with hot food, pies, alcohol and desserts being part of the occasions’ latest purchases.
Availability, price, speed
IGD explains a ‘clear split’ between what the 1,000 respondents consider to be the most important factors and those “more negotiable”.
At least nine out of every ten food-to-go shoppers rank availability, relevant choice and good value as important.
The company also cited a “significant proportion” of food-to-go shoppers continuing to express an interest in expanded ranges, such as hot food-to-go (39%), cold food-to-go (32%), vegetarian food-to-go (28%) and drinks-to-go (25%).
“Meeting these needs and developing strong reputations around specific ranges can mean retailers and operators become destination stores,” IGD said in the report.
