7 in 10 Households Buy Processed Foods Online by 2030
Online Processed Food Purchases Surge, Driven by Convenience: Survey
SEOUL (Yonhap) — A recent survey indicates a notable increase in online processed food purchases among South korean households, with convenience and accessibility cited as key drivers.
Online Shopping on the Rise
According to the Korea Rural Economic Research Institute’s (KREI) “2024 Processed Food Consumer Attitude Survey,” released Tuesday, 72.3% of households purchased processed foods online last year. This represents a 14.5 percentage point jump from the previous year’s 57.8%.
The survey highlights a growing preference for online channels, with 46.6% of respondents stating they are willing to buy processed foods online irrespective of the specific food category, occasionally supplementing these purchases with offline shopping.
Conversely, the proportion of households that reported not purchasing processed foods online decreased to 27.7%, a notable drop from 42.2% the year before.
Younger Generations Lead the Charge
The trend is particularly pronounced among younger demographics. The survey revealed that over 90% of households in their 20s and 30s regularly purchase processed foods online, with figures reaching 90.3% and 96.2% respectively.
Increased Purchase Frequency
Not only are more households buying processed foods online, but they are also doing so more frequently. The survey data shows a marked increase in the number of households purchasing these items more than once a week, climbing from 16.4% in 2019 to 37.8% last year.
Specifically, the proportion of households buying processed foods online “2-3 times a week” rose from 2.0% to 10.7%, while those purchasing “once a week” increased from 16.4% to 26.5%.
Correspondingly,the percentage of households purchasing processed foods online “every two weeks” decreased from 38.8% to 31.2%, and “once a month” fell from 29.4% to 21.9%.
Key Purchase Criteria
When asked about the most significant factors influencing their purchasing decisions, respondents cited taste (26.9%) as the top priority, followed by price (19.2%), quality (15.7%), and safety and freshness (11.8%).
According to KREI researchers, “The importance of safety, freshness, and purchase/cooking convenience has increased compared to last year, while the emphasis on taste, price, quality, and nutrition has slightly decreased.”
Notably, the importance of price as a purchase criterion has seen a significant increase as before the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 12.8% in 2019 to 19.2% in the latest survey.
HMR Popularity Soars
The survey also highlighted the growing popularity of Home Meal replacements (HMRs), with 77.9% of households reporting having purchased these products, up from 67.3%.
The most popular HMR items included dumplings (94.8%), instant rice (89.7%), sauces (88.9%), instant stews (87.5%), and instant tteokbokki and noodles (86.9%).
Researchers noted that dumplings, pizza, instant rice, and instant stews showed particularly high purchase rates among the HMR category.
Consumer satisfaction with HMR
Overall satisfaction with HMR products was rated 3.69 out of 5, indicating general consumer satisfaction. Convenience (4.05 points) and variety (3.91 points) received particularly high scores, while price (3.23 points) was rated lower.
Online Processed Food Purchases in South Korea: A Surge in Convenience
Are you curious about how South Koreans are shopping for food these days? This article dives deep into a recent survey that reveals some interesting trends in online processed food purchases.Let’s explore the data, understand the drivers, adn uncover what it means for consumers and the food industry.
What’s Driving the Increase in Online Processed Food Purchases?
according to a survey by the Korea Rural Economic Research Institute (KREI), the main drivers for the surge in online processed food purchases are convenience and accessibility.
How Many Households are Buying Processed Foods Online?
The survey showed a notable rise. In the latest year, 72.3% of South Korean households purchased processed foods online.This is a notable increase of 14.5 percentage points compared to the previous year’s 57.8%.
Is Online Shopping Becoming the Preferred Method?
Yes, the trend is shifting. 46.6% of survey respondents indicated that they are open to buying processed foods online regardless of the food category in question. They frequently enough supplement these online purchases with trips to brick-and-mortar stores.Conversely, the proportion of households not buying online dropped to 27.7% from 42.2% the year before.
Which Age Groups are Leading the Trend?
Younger generations are most enthusiastically embracing online processed food shopping. The survey revealed that over 90% of households in their 20s and 30s regularly purchase processed foods online.Specifically:
90.3% of households in their 20s
96.2% of households in their 30s
Have Purchase Frequencies Changed?
Yes, not only are more people buying online, but they are also doing so more frequently. There’s been a significant increase in the number of households purchasing these items more than once a week. The survey shows:
The percentage of households buying processed foods online more than once a week increased from 16.4% in 2019 to 37.8% last year.
Those buying “2-3 times a week” rose from 2.0% to 10.7%.
Those purchasing “once a week” increased from 16.4% to 26.5%.
The data also shows a decrease in less frequent purchases:
“Every two weeks” decreased from 38.8% to 31.2%.
“Once a month” fell from 29.4% to 21.9%.
what Influences South Koreans’ Processed Food Purchase Choices?
When survey respondents were asked about their most vital purchase criteria, taste emerged as the top priority. here’s a breakdown of the factors influencing their decisions:
Taste: 26.9%
Price: 19.2%
Quality: 15.7%
Safety and Freshness: 11.8%
Researchers noted that the importance of safety, freshness, and cooking convenience has increased compared to the prior year. Notably, the focus on price has substantially increased too.
How Has the Value of Price Changed Over Time?
The importance of price has notably increased.It rose from 12.8% in 2019 to 19.2% in the latest survey. This suggests consumers are now more price-sensitive.
What Are Home Meal Replacements (HMRs)?
Home Meal Replacements (HMRs) are pre-packaged or prepared foods designed to be ready-to-eat or require minimal planning. examples include frozen dumplings or instant rice.
Are HMRs Popular Among South Korean Consumers?
Yes! the survey showed that 77.9% of households reported purchasing HMR products. That’s up from 67.3% previously, signaling a rising demand for convenience in meal preparation.
Which Home Meal replacement (HMR) Foods Are Most Popular?
several HMR items are especially popular:
Dumplings: 94.8%
Instant Rice: 89.7%
Sauces: