Who eats beefburgers
  • In the last year there were 474 million occasions at which beefburgers were consumed. One per cent of all our meals eaten in the home feature a beefburger

  • 10% of all beefburgers are barbecued

  • 4% of beefburgers are homemade


Burgers keep mum happy because kids clear the plate Beefburgers are a key food for children. They eat 29% of all burgers, compared with 21% for all foods. Burgers are one of the few foods consumed at meal times that are enthusiastically viewed as a treat. Children’s pester power can play a key role in whether burgers are consumed within a household.

Burgers are also a popular food among all younger adults as 17 to 44-year-olds consume 43% of burgers. However, parents drive consumption within this age group, accounting for 26% of all burgers. Along with satisfying kids’ desires for a treat, parents consume burgers because they are a convenient food to cook for a family. One in every five burgers is eaten because they’re quick to cook.

Meat and Livestock Commission marketing director Richard Lowe says: “Research tells us mothers find it emotionally rewarding to see their children finish what’s on their plate, so consumption levels are not all down to pester power. The most interesting trend is towards the purchase of fresh burgers, up by 10% in 2004, in contrast to frozen, down 7%.”

Grilling, frying and oven-cooked are the most popular methods of cooking burgers. One in 10 is also cooked on the barbecue.

Chris Ponton, TNS
Produced for The Grocer by TNS.

Year to May 2004. For more information call 01372 825770. Next week: lettuce