Jews Still Best Customers for “Sacred Foods,” New Study Finds

Chicago…

Jewish shoppers tend to be more committed to “sacred foods” than other groups, according to a new study by the Mintel International Group, an international consumer, media and market research firm. Due to be released at the end of the month, the study surveyed more than 2,000 shoppers in an unprecedented study entitled “Sacred Foods and Food Traditions.” Mintel had previously conducted two studies on the kosher market. Although Jews represent approximately 2% of the population, they represent 4% of the sacred food shoppers, according to chief researcher Marcia Mogolonsky, who had also conducted the two studies on kosher. 7% of the Jewish respondents were in higher income brackets; again well above the national average. Kosher respondents are more likely to bring food to family, friends, or neighbors for sad or serious events than for happy ones. The top two reasons to bring food to someone’s home is an illness or a death. While only 6% of respondents agree that there are certain foods that they do not eat because of their faith, 25% of the Jews said that they avoided certain foods. 13% of the respondents agreed that there are certain foods that they do eat on religious holidays because of their faith but Jews were at 48%. Studies indicated that nearly 70% of America’s 6 million or so Jews participate in at least one seder on Passover. The holiday represents nearly 40% of annual kosher food sales.

The Mintel survey indicated that of people who eat certain food because of their faith during religious holidays, Jews again was the leading group when it came to the importance of passing along food traditions to the next generation.

Permission give by koshertoday.com to republish