Many American consumers are willing to spend more on “higher quality” menu items despite spending less on dining out. In a new study, ‘The Consumer Pricing Strategy Report’, foodservice consultants Technomic discovered more than six out of ten consumers (61 per cent) indicated they would spend more for a higher quality sandwich if it contained premium meat; 41 per cent if it were made with premium cheese; and 34 per cent if it contained premium bread. The report focuses on... ...Read more »

Despite the wettest summer since records began in 1914, UK soft drinks consumption dipped by less than 1% in 2007 to 14,215 million litres, achieving a retail value of £12,940 million, according to the latest UK soft drinks report from leading drinks consultancy group Zenith International. The fall was due in no part to ‘health drinks’, which managed to gain ground on other sectors within the sector despite the overall fall in sales. “Health, wellbeing, functionality and convenience... ...Read more »

Once the poor relation, left on the sweet shop shelf, dark chocolate is steadily gaining notoriety as Britain buys into a new, healthier image. The latest research from MINTEL shows that sales in Britain almost doubled between 2005 and 2007, with sales hitting £85 million last year. Mathilde Dudouit, senior market analyst at MINTEL, believes that the consumer trend toward ‘good for you’ foods is driving growth in the category. “Although dark chocolate is still high in... ...Read more »

Chocolate has rarely been considered as a sound choice for those looking for healthy snack options. However, with a growing body of research highlighting the health benefits of cocoa, chocolate manufacturers are starting to update their products to capitalise on the positive publicity. The sugar and milk content, among other ingredients, in normal processed chocolate has restricted the potential of the cocoa bean but now, with increased awareness of the benefits of antioxidants in cocoa, manufacturers... ...Read more »