Current consumer trends bode well for companies able to develop on-the-go foods that are also healthy. While 65% of Americans say they are trying to eat healthier foods these days, 33% say they don’t have the time to prepare or eat healthy meals. Over half of Americans claim they would cook at home more often but do not have the time, despite the fact that 82% say they enjoy preparing food at home. In short, whereas most consumers would prefer to eat healthy, home-cooked meals, a growing number are nevertheless opting for more convenient foods more than ever before. At the same time, with commute times growing ever longer, many want the food they put in their bodies to be as functional as the fuel they put in their cars. In short, if a food item can be purchased quickly and consumed with minimal effort, that’s great; but if it’s also healthy, that’s even better.
This completely updated Packaged Facts report takes a comprehensive view of the many trends related to on-the-go eating, from portion control packaging to changes in Americans’ dining habits, such as shifting meal times and the blurring of meals and snacks. It weighs the social criticisms and legal challenges facing food purveyors, and examines how retailers and marketers are leveraging technology to appeal to customers’ need for convenience. Perhaps most significantly, the report takes an in-depth look at how different food channels—from fast-food and casual restaurants to grocery stores, convenience stores, and drugstores—are adapting and changing in order to draw in the millions of American consumers looking to grab something quick to eat during the course of their busy days. The report also provides case studies and discussions of leading players in each channel including Subway, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Chipotle, Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, Sheetz, and many others.

How You Will Benefit from this Report
If your company is interested in on-the-go eating, this report is invaluable as it provides a comprehensive package of information and insight about consumer, foodservice and retail trends. Contributing to that understanding is a complete analysis of data from published and trade sources. This report will help:
Marketing Managers identify market opportunities and develop targeted promotion plans.
Research and development professionals stay on top of competitor initiatives and explore demand for on-the-go products.
Advertising agencies to develop messages and images that compel consumers to purchase on-the-go products.
Business development executives understand the dynamics of the market and identify possible partnerships.
Information and research center librarians provide market researchers, brand and product managers and other colleagues with the vital information they need to do their jobs more effectively.

Chapter 1: Executive Summary
* Scope and Methodology
o Scope of Report
o Report Methodology
o On-The-Go Eating Consumer Trend Overview
+ The Driving Trend: Time-Saving Convenience
+ Health and Nutrition Also Key Concerns
+ Figure 1-1: Consumer Attitudes About Healthy Foods and Time Constraints, 2006 (percent of U.S. adults)
+ Consumer Demographics by Meal Occasion
+ Blurring Between Meals and Snacks
o Restaurant Trends
+ The Market Landscape
+ Restaurant Trends by Meal
+ Figure 1-2: Fast-Food vs. Family Restaurants by Meal Occasion, 2006 (percent of U.S. adults)
o Food Retailing Trends
+ Supermarkets and Supercenters
+ Convenience Stores
+ Drugstores
+ Dollar Stores
+ Vending
o On-the-Go Packaged Product Trends
+ On-the-Go Foods Merging with Healthy Snacks
+ Growing Household Penetration Rates and Sales for Yogurt, Breakfast Sandwiches, Snack Bars
o Looking Ahead
+ Trends and Opportunities

Chapter 2: On-The-Go Eating Consumer Overview
* The Driving Trend: Time-Saving Convenience
* Health and Nutrition Also Key Concerns
* Figure 2-1: Consumer Attitudes About Healthy Foods and Time Constraints, 2006 (percent of U.S. adults)
* Table 2-1: Number of Consumers Who Agree with Selected Statements About Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults in millions)
* Commuting in Cars on the Rise
* Consumer Demographics by Meal Occasion
* Figure 2-2: Consumer Attitudes About Meal Times, 2006 (percent of U.S. adults)
* Table 2-2: Total Number of Consumers Who Agree (Agree a Little or Agree a Lot) with Selected Statements About Meal Times, 2006 (U.S. adults in millions)
* Blurring Between Meals and Snacks
* Variations in Consumer Attitudes About Eating by Retail Channel
* Table 2-3a: Demographic Indices by Attitudes About Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-3b: Demographic Indices by Attitudes About Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-4: Demographic Indices by Meal-Time Attitudes, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-5a: Percent of Consumers by Retail Channel Who Agree with Selected Statements on Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-5b: Percent of Consumers by Retail Channel Who Agree with Selected Statements on Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-5c: Percent of Consumers by Retail Channel Who Agree with Selected Statements on Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-6a: Total Number of Consumers by Channel Who Agree with Selected Statements on Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults in millions)
* Table 2-6b: Total Number of Consumers by Channel Who Agree with Selected Statements on Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults in millions)
* Table 2-6c: Total Number of Consumers by Retail Channel Who Agree with Selected Statements on Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-7: Shopper Indices by Retail Channel for Agreement with Statement: Try to Eat Healthier Foods These Days, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-8: Shopper Indices by Retail Channel for Agreement with Statement: Like Trend Toward Healthier Fast Food, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-9: Shopper Indices by Retail Channel for Agreement with Statement: Don’t Have Time to Prepare/Eat Healthy Meals, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-10: Shopper Indices by Retail Channel for Agreement with Statement: Fast Food Fits My Busy Lifestyle, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-11: Shopper Indices by Retail Channel for Agreement with Statement: Rarely Sit Down to a Meal Together at Home, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Table 2-12: Shopper Indices by Retail Channel for Agreement with Statement: Often Eat Store-Made, Pre-Cooked Meals, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Macro Trends in Eating and Snacking
o Increased Health Awareness Among U.S. Consumers
o Consumers Balance Convenience and Health
o Low-Carb Trend Regrouping
o Whole Grains Still Growing in Importance
o The Trans-Fat Front
o The Revised USDA Food Pyramid
o Beverages Also Boosted by Health and Convenience Trends
o Litigation and Legislation Driving Change
o Portion Control

Chapter 3: Restaurant Trends
* Trend Overview
o The Market Landscape
o New QSR Consumer Survey Implies Healthy Possibilities
o Location, Location
o High-Tech Developments in Convenience
o Pervasive Usage of Fast-Food and Family Restaurants Means Few Stand-Out Demographic Groups
o Restaurant Trends by Meal
o Figure 3-1: Fast-Food vs. Family Restaurants by Meal Occasion, 2006 (percent of U.S. adults)
o Figure 3-2: Who U.S. Consumers Snack With: Fast-Food vs. Family Restaurants, 2006 (percent of U.S. adults)
o Breakfast: Great Expectations
o Lunch: Quick and Healthier
o Dinner: QSR Operators Moving In
o More Fluid Eating Patterns Favor Foodservice, Snacking
o Case Study: McDonald’s Snack Attack
o Takeout: All Systems Go
o The Ultimate Convenience Food: Sandwiches
o Burgers Seeking New Identity
o Value Meals and Menus
o Healthy Fast-Food Consumer Demographics
o Many Restaurants Adding Healthier Menu Offerings
o Case Study: Wendy’s
o Case Study: Chipotle Mexican Grill
o Targeting Women with Health and Convenience
o “Less Healthy” Items Still Paying the Bills
o Critical Heat Still On Despite “Cheeseburger Bills”
o Table 3-1: Fast-Food Restaurant User Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 3-2: Family Restaurant User Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 3-3: Fast-Food Restaurant Usage Rates by Companion and Meal Occasion, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 3-4: Family Restaurant Usage Rates by Companion and Meal Occasion, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 3-5: Demographics for Adults Who Agree with Statement: I Like the Trend Toward Healthier Fast Food, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 3-6: Fast-Food Usage Overview Among Adults Who Agree with Statement: I Like the Trend Toward Healthier Fast Food, 2006 (U.S. adult fast-food consumers)
o Table 3-7: Fast-Food Usage by Chain Among Adults Who Agree with Statement: I Like the Trend Toward Healthier Fast Food, 2006 (U.S. adults)

Chapter 4: Food Retailing Trends
* Introduction
o Retail Channels Blurring
* Supermarkets and Supercenters
o Grocery Stores Struggle to Adapt to Changing Consumer Habits
o Less Time in the Kitchen
o Competition from Other Channels
o European Retailers Spearheading New Convenience-Oriented Formats
o “Lifestyle Supermarkets” Coming on Strong
o Whole Foods Leads the Trend
o Other Supermarket Chains Following Suit
o In-Store Deli Counters Taking On Restaurants
o Making In-Store Delis Even More Convenient
o Deli Packaging
o Turning Grocery Stores into Restaurants
o Natural Supermarkets Lead in Fresh-Made Sandwiches
o Trend Profile: Wal-Mart
o Figure 4-1: Wal-Mart Supercenter Shoppers by Attitudes About Healthy Eating and Time Constraints, 2006 (index)
o Technological Advances
o Self-Checkout
o Scan-As-You-Shop Wands
o Online Ordering
o Shopper Numbers, Demographics, and Opportunities
o Table 4-1: Monthly Shopping Trip Patterns: Supermarkets/Food Stores Overall vs. Selected Chain Food Retailers, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 4-2: Supermarket/Food Store Shopper Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 4-3: Wal-Mart Supercenter Shopper Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 4-4: Natural Food Supermarket Shopper Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)

Chapter 4: Food Retailing Trends
* Convenience Stores
o Built in Advantages for On-The-Go Eating
o Convenience Store Shopper Demographics
o Food Sales Rising at C-Stores
o Healthy Eating at C-Stores
o Case Study: 7-Eleven
o Competing with Restaurants and Grocery Delis
o Case Study: Sheetz
o Case Study: NexStore Marketplace
o Home Depot Weighing In?
o Emerging Competition from Britain and Japan
o C-Store Private Labels
o Challenges to C-Store Reinvention
o Table 4-5: Monthly Shopping Trip Patterns in Convenience Stores, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 4-6: Convenience Store Shopper Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Drugstores
o Built-in Advantages Yet to Be Tapped
o Demographic Opportunities
o Table 4-7: Monthly Shopping Trip Patterns in Drugstores, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 4-8: Drugstore Shopper Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Dollar Stores
o Slower Growth, Downscale Demographics
o But Still Worth Watching
o Table 4-9: Monthly Shopping Trip Patterns in Dollar Stores, 2006 (U.S. adults)
o Table 4-10: Dollar General Store or Family Dollar Shopper Demographics, 2006 (U.S. adults)
* Vending
o Caught at a Crossroads?
o Expanding Offerings, Capabilities
o Get & Go Express
o Vending with Credit Cards
o Vending Nutrition

Chapter 5: Packaged Product Trends
* On-the-Go Foods Merging with Healthy Snacks
* Growing Household Penetration Rates and Sales for Yogurt, Breakfast Sandwiches, Snack Bars
* Yogurt and Yogurt Drinks Coming on Strong
* Portable, Healthier Breakfast Foods
* Snack Bars Focus on Health and Convenience, Especially for Breakfast
* Portable Fruit
* Packaging Emphasizes Portability, Portion Control
* The Single-Serving Surge
* Package Labels and Shelf Tags Facilitate Healthy Choices
* Table 5-1: Usage Rates for Selected On-the-Go Food Brand Lines: 2003 vs. 2006 (U.S. households)
* Table 5-2: IRI-Tracked Sales of Selected On-the-Go Food Categories, 2005 vs. 2006 (in millions of dollars)
* Table 5-3: IRI-Tracked Sales of Selected Top-Performing On-the-Go Food Products, 2005 vs. 2006 (in millions of dollars)

Chapter 6: Looking Ahead
* Busier and Busier
* Growing Health Awareness, Ongoing Trends
* Wealthy, Healthy Gourmets and the Obese Poor
* Meals Blurring, Snacks Rising
* Blurring of Channels
* Growth of the Green
* The Return of the Automat?
* Technological Advances