Consumer survey gauges shopping, dining habits post-COVID restrictions

National PR firm, Inspire PR Group, and full-service market research firm, Illuminology, released April 29 the results of a nationwide survey, “Eating 2020: How COVID-19 Will Change Consumer Engagement With Food.”

The survey gauged more than 1,800 U.S. consumers’ food purchasing trends before, during and after the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions.   

Online to decline 

Additional insights reveal that although grocery chains saw a surge of new customers for online pickup and delivery orders in April 2020, these platforms are likely to see significant declines back to pre-COVID-19 levels or lower after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. The survey found that of the recently acquired shoppers, more than one-third are unlikely to use online pickup and nearly half are unlikely to use online delivery when restrictions are lifted.  

The research was conducted April 17-20, 2020, and surveyed 1,300 U.S. consumers and an additional sample of 500 Ohio consumers. The survey asked respondents about their grocery and restaurant behaviors in the first two months of 2020 before COVID-19 became a crisis in the U.S., behaviors during stay-at-home orders in April, and how consumers anticipate their behaviors will change in the first 60 days following when orders are lifted. 

“Overall, these data tell a story of consumers’ changing purchase patterns before, during, and after an incredible shock to our economic and health systems,” said Orie Kristel, CEO of Illuminology. “Groceries and restaurants need to be especially cautious when planning their operations after COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. Although many customers likely crave a great dining or shopping experience, many customers are also concerned about potential monetary or health issues.” 

Additional insights from the U.S. survey of 1,300 respondents revealed: 

Restaurant behavior insights 

• 37% percent of diners are extremely or very worried about getting sick from other customers if they eat a meal inside a restaurant. 
• While carryout, drive-thru and food delivery nearly doubled from once every two weeks to once per week, frequency of these services is projected to decrease significantly after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. 
• All restaurant sectors, with the exception of QSR (quick-serve restaurants), saw dramatic decreases during COVID-19 restrictions, however most sectors are projected to see a return to pre-COVID-19 levels of visits. 
• Restaurant spending is a concern, with more than 60% feeling they could not pay or would worry about paying $75 for a family dinner out, suggesting the pandemic’s economic toll is a continued impact on the sector. 
• After COVID-19 restrictions lift, dine-in visits to restaurants will increase but not to pre-stay-at-home levels (45% of people will dine inside a restaurant soon after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted vs. 67% pre-COVID-19 restrictions). 

Grocery store behaviors will change 

Stockpiling extra nonperishable foods and household supplies is likely to continue, with four in 10 respondents saying they are very likely to buy and store these items after stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. 

Consumers are fearful of other shoppers making them ill. Approximately 23% of shoppers prefer that customers wear face masks, and 18% prefer that the number of customers in the store be limited. 

When the shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted, in-store visits will increase, but online shopping will decrease or remain flat.  

The full report and methodology can be downloaded at InspirePRGroup.com.