CHICAGO -- Nearly three out of 10 Americans plan to sit down to a Thanksgiving dinner this year that includes at least one prepared ready-to-eat dish from a retailer, restaurant or caterer, according to a recent Technomic survey. Over the past three years, the proportion of consumers telling Technomic that they would turn to a foodservice source for part of their Thanksgiving dinner has risen, from 23% in 2011 to 29% in 2013.
In addition to those incorporating meat, sides or desserts from a retailer, restaurant or caterer into a home meal, 6% of those polled in all three years reported that they were planning to share Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant.
"Technomic research consistently shows that consumers view restaurant meals as a way to connect with family and friends," said Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic. "Using prepared foods for holiday meals at homes has the same effect; it gets hosts out of the kitchen sooner so they can really enjoy time with their guests."
Technomic provides its food and foodservice clients with facts, insights and consulting support. Its services include consumer tracking services, publications and digital products, as well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food industry.
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