The food companies that take notice of consumers’ growing interest in fresh, natural and organic products continue to reap the rewards. That’s because customer satisfaction with grocery food—packaged food products ranging from chocolate, baked goods and cereal to meat, cheese and frozen foods—climbs 1.2% year over year to 82 (on a 0 to 100 scale), according to the “Nondurable Products Report 2018,” presented by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Ann Arbor, Mich.
“A growing demand for healthier foods has reshuffled the playing field for grocery brands,” says David VanAmburg, managing director. “In 2018, we saw the sales of plant-based foods grow by 20%, and one in 10 consumers have tried a gluten-free diet. These aren’t fads; customers want to adhere to a healthier lifestyle and they’re more satisfied with brands that offer those options.”
The study is based on interviews with 5,315 customers, chosen at random and contacted via email between Oct. 2, 2017 and Sept. 28.