* QAUrI CoKuBnI TdE S T h e Ta b l e
THE VILLAGES
A satisfying tradition
If you can’t wait till the 17th for Irish culinary traditions such as corned beef and cabbage, get an early jump on satisfying your appetite in The Villages. The community will stage two St. Patrick’s Day Festivals, March 14 at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square and March 16 at Spanish Springs Town Square, both scheduled from 4:45-9pm. Restaurants and food vendors lining the squares will serve all the holiday food favorites, and don’t forget the green beer.
T O T A L F O O D E X P E N D I T U R E A N D A T- H O M E S H A R E 1,800 1,600 1,400 At-home share is declining 1,200 $B
1,000
Away from home $800B
54.6%
+94% since ‘03
49.8%
800 600
At home $793B
400
+59% since ‘03
200 0
‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10
‘11
‘12
‘13
‘14
‘15 ‘16
Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Economic Research Service. © 2017 The Nielsen Company
Just drop them off! Publix supermarkets in Leesburg and Eustis now offer delivery service right to your door! All you do is browse all their products online, create a shopping list, and the items will be delivered to your home. For those who dread going to the grocery store after work, the fear is gone! Right now, this service is offered only in select areas, and it includes liquor deliveries. Go to publix.com, put in your zip code to see if service is available in your area, and start shopping. There is a charge for delivery, but how valuable is your time?
The daily special It seems everyone, including the president, enjoys more meals from restaurants than dining at home or they’re preparing home meals from a kit. According to a Nielsen Marketing study, more people are eating in restaurants than ever. This trend has increased in such a significant manner that it’s hitting grocery stores in the cash register in a bad way. Much of this is due to online shopping and meal kit availability. It simply means avoiding the hassle of shopping while having everything you need for the meal in one container. Statistics show Gen X buyers account for 51 percent of spending on meal kits, but indications are all generations are being more diverse in food and beverage buying options.
Label, label, label
If you’re smart, you shop with a list so you don’t give in to impulsive prompts on grocery shelves. However, even with a list, no two shoppers work the store aisles alike. Studies show that U.S. shoppers are focused more on product attributes than sales. Some are looking for keywords like antioxidants, and others are looking for what’s not inside. According to Nielsen’s Clean Label Report, many shoppers are saying it’s more important to leave out the bad stuff than include the good stuff. They don’t like artificial ingredients, hormones/antibiotics, and that vague list of ingredients that aren’t easy to pronounce.
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