Generational trends can be influenced by a variety of factors. Additionally, when consumers reach major life milestones, such as adulthood for Gen Zers, parenthood for millennials and retirement for baby boomers, food and beverage needs and decisions are affected.
At Smithfield Culinary, our generational insights will help you best appeal to the needs
of current customers and expand to prospective ones. While there are seven living
generations today, we are focusing on the four most active dining generations:
As might be expected, the two younger generations, Gen Z and millennials, are more
into new and innovative foods and flavors, and are more technology-savvy, than the two
older generations, Gen X and boomers. Other differences are more surprising; many
boomers are sticklers that their takeout is as good as what’s served in the restaurant.
And all four generations about equally prefer visiting familiar restaurants.
Gen X is the wealthiest age group per capita and has saved over $13 trillion, according to federal data.
Technomic 2022 Generational Eating Study
MRI Survey of the American Consumer database