Eating away from home: a case study in Lavras - MG

Abstract

With the purpose to identify the eating out habits of consumers in Lavras, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, the research was carried out using observation, semi-structured interviews, and a survey that was adapted from a questionnaire developed by Warde and Martens (2000). Among the main results we can highlight: the searching for a variety of food as a great motivation for eating ou; convenience was also detected as an important element at the most part of consumption occasion; the role of eating out as social distinction in certain occasions; the higher intensity of consumption and more favorable attitudes for eating out by the youngest, superior level of education, and with higher income; the appreciation of typical foods of Brazil and Minas Gerais, characterizing a relative conservationism at feeding. Using a cluster and discriminant analysis, two market segments were identified, one younger, higher income and superior level of education than the other. The younger segment seeks for novelty and eats out more frequently, while the older segment is more conservative.