MORE FILIPINO shoppers are choosing to buy meals in convenience stores in response to their fast-paced lifestyles, according to a report by global measurement and data analytics firm Nielsen Holdings.
In the Nielsen Shopper Trends 2019 report, the company said the purchase of ready-to-consume food and drinks typically pick up from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., then spikes from 4:01 p.m. to 6 p.m. It noted that this is the time when consumers buy their afternoon snack or food items to eat while in transit or to bring home.
“The consumers’ on-the-go lifestyle is leaving less time to prepare and cook meals at home and is driving consumers to satisfy their need to eat right away, anytime, anywhere,” Nielsen Philippines Managing Director John Patrick S. Cua said in a statement.
Nielsen Philippines said the growing number of convenience stores are allowing Filipinos to patronize these retail channels. It tallied almost 4,500 convenience stores in the country today, with expansion seen to the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
The most popular food items bought at convenience stores include bread, hotdog sandwiches, siopao and tunapao, rice meals, salty snacks or chips, bottled water, and carbonated soft drinks.
Shoppers were also found to be buying more fried chicken, energy or sports drinks, chocolate powder mixes, 3-in-1 coffee mixes, and ready-to-drink beverages such as milk, soymilk, and tea.
“As the demand for convenient options persists, the need for convenience store retailers and manufacturers to offer more customized solutions that can go beyond product offerings by providing an overall convenience experience is more critical than ever,” Mr. Cua said.
“Innovations in packaging, preparation, portability, ordering, payment and application technologies are some factors to consider in providing an overall convenience experience.”
The company said these retailers could provide further convenience by having in-store eating spaces, online ordering and payment options, group meal bundles that can be shared or taken home to the family, as well as microwavable and spill-proof containers.
Nielsen Philippines conducted the survey for this report from November to December 2018, with more than 2,000 male and female respondents aged 15-65 years old from across socioeconomic classes A to E. The respondents lived in urban locations and were either main decision makers or key influencers in grocery shopping for their household. — Arra B. Francia
