Once the pandemic is over, a significant portion of consumers plan to keep loading their pantries and cooking at home more than they did before, according to a study from PwC.
The survey showed that, of consumers who reported loading their pantries in response to the COVID-19 crisis, 64% said they would continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Asked what would make them stop doing so, the most popular response, at 42%, was COVID-19 being fully resolved. Other responses were: when grocery stores are consistently restocked (24%) and when shelter-in-place mandates ease (14%), while 18% said they won’t stop stocking.
Asked what they do more of now that they’re confined to their homes, 51% said cooking (the second-most popular answer behind watching TV, news and movies). Cooking came in first, at 69%, among activities at home that are adding to respondents’ quality of life.
Brand loyalty seems to be shaky. Roughly two-thirds of respondents said they are buying new food brands when their usual brands are not available; the remaining third said they are buying new brands even when their usual ones are available.