According to the YouGov report Conscious Consumerism - A Balancing Act, 76% of UK consumers consider themselves to be conscious consumers. Most people consider the social, environmental and economic impacts when making choices about the food they eat.
The insight paper sets out to explain the opportunities and challenges presented by the rise in conscious consumerism in foodservice as well as how to address them.
Rachel Neale, marketing director at AAK Foodservice, said: “Most would agree I think that consumers have, in the past, been more conscious of the impact of their purchasing decisions in the supermarket, than when eating out.
“However, there’s now strong evidence to suggest from Europe and the US, as well as here in the UK, that people are prepared to pay more in venues, and on products, with strong sustainability credentials. Our new insight paper explores the issues that conscious consumers care about – from ethical sourcing, protecting animals and carbon reduction, to waste saving, human rights and responsible production.
“It addresses big issues – such as why palm oil can be sustainable choice for your business, as well as some of the smaller ways that everyone can make a difference, from careful menu planning and ingredient selection, to cutting food and packaging waste. We provide information too about our own sustainable journey, and the many ways we can support businesses in our sector on theirs.”