8 in 10 Southeast Asians seek better food transparency: NielsenIQ BASES

SEA consumers have a growing appetite for healthy options, the research found.

BASES, a NielsenIQ business, published its findings on Southeast Asian (SEA) consumers' references in the food, alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, personal care, and home care segments.

The research revealed 81% of SEA respondents claim to value transparency of food product information as they assess the impact on personal health. For alcoholic beverages, consumers value quality (51%), followed by the presence of artificial ingredients (43%).

Findings also concluded SEA respondents want their non-alcoholic beverages to be healthy (50%), affordable (46%), and tasty (44%). Lastly, the survey showed most people refer to information on the origin or source by reading the label (52%) or by checking the packaging for third-party certifications or verifications (41%).

The COVID-19 pandemic altered consumers' purchasing behaviour. As a result of social distancing restrictions, there was a decline in footfall at physical retail formats and a preference for digital and online platforms. Notably, there was a 16% decrease in respondents who claimed they visit brick-and-mortar retail grocery shops, from 76% five years ago to 60% now. There was also a 6% decrease in shoppers who claimed they go to physical convenience stores for their food purchases, from 72% five years ago to 66% now.