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Dining out survey highlights opportunities for pork

A new study by the National Pork Board explores the changing landscape of dining out in the U.S.

It found that Americans are spending more than 50 percent of their food budgets on meals away from home at restaurants, grocery retailers, food trucks, convenience stores, and more.

Jarrod Sutton, vice president of domestic marketing with the National Pork Board, says the study also highlights opportunities for pork in restaurants.  

“Pork is the number one consumed protein around the world but it’s only the primary protein on 17 percent of entree options on U.S. menus,” he says.

And when bacon, sausage, and pepperoni are removed from the list, less than seven percent of menu entrees feature fresh pork.

Sutton says there are opportunities to incorporate pork in new ways on menus, especially with Mexican and Latin dishes as well as Asian dishes.

“When asked what people crave, 51 percent said they crave Mexican and Latin pork dishes and 48 percent said they crave Asian pork dishes,” he says. “Our job is to celebrate that and help other restaurant operators understand how to be successful in offering pork that way.”

The study also found that taste, health, and convenience are the three primary drivers for consumers when deciding where and what to eat.

About 11,000 people were surveyed. For more information visit pork.org/marketing.

Audio: Jarrod Sutton, National Pork Board