New York Ag Connection - Millennials Seek Cultural Variety in What They Eat, Watch, Buy

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Millennials Seek Cultural Variety in What They Eat, Watch, Buy
New York Ag Connection - 07/28/2016

There is a clear demand for multicultural influence in the lives of American adults. More than three quarters of Americans (78%) agree they love trying new things outside of their own culture. This desire for novelty and variety is even higher among Millennials, of which 84% love the exposure to different cultures. People seeking this multicultural experience can find it in many places, including what they eat, watch, and buy.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,034 U.S. adults aged 18+ surveyed online between June 7 and 9, 2016. Complete results of this study can be found here.

One place where people look to fulfill their desire for multicultural influence is in what they eat. About one quarter of all U.S. adults (26%) say it is at least very important that the foods they buy and consume contain multicultural flavors. Millennials place more importance on buying and consuming multicultural flavors than any other generation, with 32% saying it is at least very important. Among those ages 35-44 and 45-54, 27% each find it important, while only 20% of those age 55-64 and 21% of adults ages 65 and over feel the same.

However, multicultural flavor is still not as important as other factors when purchasing and consuming food. Locally sourced ingredients are at least very important for 36% of American adults, followed by organic or natural ingredients (32%). Buying foods with multicultural flavor is seen as equally important as purchasing from a company with a strong social purpose (26%).

Entertainment is a big part of American culture, with television and movies playing a large role in how people entertain themselves, but how do people decide what to watch and where does multicultural influence fit in? Nearly two-thirds of adults (64%) say format (e.g. comedy, drama, etc.) is important to them, followed by the cast (53%). When it comes to cast, adults are seeking a multicultural experience. More than half (56%) prefer to watch movies and television with multicultural characters. This is even more prevalent among Millennials, with nearly 7 in 10 (68%) preferring to watch a multicultural cast of characters. More Millennials also value stories from a new or different cultural context (21%), compared to the average U.S. adult (16%).

Adults are also seeking multicultural influence in the brands they buy. When it comes to shelling out extra money, about one third of adults (32%) say they would pay more for a brand that understands multicultural needs. Among Millennials, however, the proportion jumps to nearly half (47%) who are willing to open their wallets a bit further. As for where adults are going to shop, about half (49%) agree they would shop more at a retailer that offers a wider selection of multicultural products. These multicultural products are even more tempting for Millennials, with 65% agreeing they would shop more where there is a wide selection of multicultural products.

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