Canada’s Asian Population Influencing Shift in National Eating

Since 2001, the number of meals consumed that include potatoes have decreased by 703 million eatings on an annual basis, while those that include rice have increased by 297 million eatings annually.

Oct 19 2011 --- As Canada’s Asian population increases, the country’s eating habits are reflecting this demographic shift by revealing a growing eastern influence in national food choices, according to The NPD Group, a leading market research company. With this evolution in mind, food and beverage manufacturers and retailers will need to understand how best to accommodate this growing segment in order to gain a competitive advantage in the food and beverage industry.

Asians comprise 11 per cent of the Canadian population (3.3 million) and, according to Eating Patterns in Canada (EPIC), a compilation of the food-related research The NPD Group conducts over the year,potato consumption among Canadians is softening asthe overall upward trend of rice intake continues. Since 2001, the number of meals consumed that include potatoes have decreased by 703 million eatings on an annual basis, while those that include rice have increased by 297 million eatings annually. Similarly, beef is no longer as popular as it used to be, having decreased by 384 million mealsannually since 2001,whilethe intake of seafood and pork, both common among Asian Canadians, has steadily increasedannually by 248 million and 372 million meals respectivelyduring the same period.

“Canada’s demographic environment continues to evolve, with much of the population growth fueled by immigration,”says Joel Gregoire, food and beverage industry analyst, The NPD Group, and author of Eating Patterns in Canada. “As the face of Canada’s population continues to change, our eating behaviour is sure to follow suit.”

The Asian-Canadian influence is affecting more than just meal time staples; it’s also impacting the country’s snacking behaviour.According to EPIC, the Asian population snacks more often than other cultures at an average of 309 snacks per year per person, withfruit beingthe dominantfood choice in 38 per cent of occasions.The average Canadian chooses fruit as a snack 30 per cent of the time.

The Asian culture is also echoed in beverage categories, which shows a substantial growth in the consumption of flavoured tea. Among Canadians, there has been an increase from 25 annual meals in 2001 to 44 per individual in 2011 that include a flavoured tea drink. Green tea has proven to be the most popular variety, with the annual number of meals that included this specific beverage having increased from less than four in 2001 to almost 15 in 2011.

“In order to better understand how to cater to this growing segment, food and beverage manufacturers and retailers should examine how this ethnic group influences the country’s eating behaviour,” continued Gregoire. “By recognizing the major similarities and core differences between the growing Asian community and the rest of the population, food and beverage providerswill be better equippedto make the strategic decisions necessary to fuel their success.”

Over the next decade,immigration to Canada is expected to grow by almost 15 per cent, with the majority of new Canadians coming primarily from Asia, according to Statistics Canada.As such, the Asian community is a prime growth target in Canada whose dietary preferences should not be overlooked by corporations seeking longevity.