Analsis of household food away from home consumption habits in Ankara

Rapid urbanization, population growth and the increase of the interaction of cultures due to the technological development also affect people's lifestyles. Changing lifestyles lead to a change in food consumption habits. Nowadays, consumption of prepared foods outside the home has become inevitable. Many studies have been conducted on the causes and level of this condition. According to previous analysis, the reasons consumption of out-of-home food that consuming food away from home requires less effort than cooking at home and the household wives does not have time prepare food at home because of working. In this study,household food consumption habits were examined in the urban area of Ankara by using family food consumption survey data. In this study, while having information about food away from home expenditure; the person who decides to consume food out of the home, the products that are frequently preferred in the consumption of non-home food, fast-food brands and places, the reasons and frequency of the food consumption away from home andespecially the relationship between family income, age of mother, education level, working status and consumption of food outside home were examined. The surveys conducted in 221 households were analysed according to the answers of the reference persons on behalf of the household.Study data were analysed and evaluated by using SPSS software. In processing consumer data, descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were applied. Households spend17.1% of their total budget on food and 38.2% of food expenditure on the food consumption away from home. 32.6% of 221 households to survey have consumed food away from home. The first reason for the food consumption away from home is socializing (to be communicated with other individuals in society). The first product of choice for the food consumption away from is hamburger. According to Chi-Square analysis results, a statistically significant relation was detected between out-of-home food expenditure and mother's age, education, work. At the same time, a statistically significant relation was detected between household widths, life cycle of families and out-of-home food expenditure, reasons, frequency, timing. 59.3% of 221 households are sensitive to domestic places or brands in out-of-home food consumption. A statistically significant relation was detected between sensitivity of domestic places or brands and preferred fast-food places or brands. In this study conducted in urban area of Ankara, the most preferred fast-food place or brand of 221 households is "other". It means some local restaurants that they often prefer other than offered options to consumers. 52% of 221 households always prefer the same places or brands. This study indicates that contentment to domestic products is good and if the prices and services of domestic places or brands are improved, the tendency of consumers to domestic places or brands will increase. According to the study results, as the education level and working rate of the mother increases, out-of-home food consumption expenditures also increase. There are mothers in 206 households and the reason of 206 householdsin out-of-home food consumption is changing from socialization, ie, communication with other individuals in the society, celebration of special days, holidays and convenience in accessibility of fast-food products. This results shows that fast-food places should pay attention to service.