Meals made from local ingredients much more enjoyable to eat

The Canadean Consumer, a research company revealed that ingredients have an effect on a consumer’s enjoyment of meals from restaurants. A consumer is happier with a meal that is made from local ingredients versus those made with other ‘types’ of ingredients.

The survey rated ingredients on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being ‘no influence at all’ and 5 being ‘large influence’). The results were: 2.91 for locally sourced ingredients; 2.71 for exotic ingredients; 2.7 for sustainably sourced ingredients; and 2.5 for organic ingredients. Expensive ingredients ranked the lowest.

The results also substantiate one of the restaurant trends forecast for 2012, localism, according to research manager Alex Wilman. Consumers perceive locally sourced products as fresher and of better quality, and so they enjoy the meals confidently. In response to this trend, restaurant operators are using more local meat, fish and produce. Locally sourced ingredients also provide some satisfaction for consumers knowing that what they eat does not add to the operator’s carbon footprint.

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