NUTRITION GAINING IMPORTANCE
By Adnews Staff
An annual study done by Grocery Products Manufacturers of Canada found this year that 79% of Canadian grocery shoppers feel nutrition is important when buying food, but only 20% of them have changed their eating habits because of nutritional concerns. But even if they are slow to change what they put in their mouths, at least shoppers have been getting more nutrition in their minds in recent years. At a low point in 1988, the study showed that only 67% of the respondents felt nutrition was important. Most grocery shopping is still done by women. Those in the 35-to-49 age group, accounting for one-third of all female shoppers, have the highest household incomes and spend the most on groceries. A composite picture of a typical Canadian shopper shows that she is, on average, 45-years-old, married with two children, working full-time and living in an urban community. She spends almost $100 a week on groceries. Forty-five per cent of shoppers believe that price is more important than quality in choosing among different brands. Thirty-three per cent said that quality and price are equally important and 22% said that quality is more important.