Consumers Say They're Eating Fewer Burgers

Call it the great burger decline of the new century.

Burgers are off the menu for more and more consumers and restaurants are feeling the effects, according to Technomic Inc.’s recently released 2017 Burger Consumer Trend Report.

While 56 percent of consumers still say they eat burgers at least once a week, this is down from roughly two-thirds of consumers in 2013, and consumers say they are now preparing a higher percentage of their burgers at home. These shifts in consumption align with the increased availability of other menu options, especially at fast casual and restaurants, and the 15 percent increase in burger prices at leading chains since 2013 (compared to about 11 percent for all entrees).
“Burgers are becoming a more premium option as pricier toppings like brisket, fried eggs, and avocado trend up on menus,” explains Anne Mills, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. “While these ingredients are satisfying demands for new and unique burgers, increasing prices may make burgers a less practical option and push consumers to more affordable alternatives, especially as retail prices for burgers drop.”
Other key takeaways from the report include:

• Thirty-five percent of consumers say it’s very important that restaurants offer burgers with new and unique flavors.
• Twenty-six percent of consumers say breakfast burgers are highly appealing, up from 22 percent in 2015.
• Forty-eight percent of consumers say it’s very important that burgers are made with never-frozen beef.

Surveys of more than 1,500 consumers and Technomic’s MenuMonitor and Digital Resource Library were used to compile the comprehensive 2017 Burger Consumer Trend Report. It’s a resource for foodservice operators and suppliers looking to understand consumer consumption of and attitudes toward burgers and to identify key areas of opportunity.
Technomic publishes a complete library of Consumer Trend Reports. To learn more, visit technomic.com.