Maryam Aman

1 Students Name Teacher’s Name Course Name Date 2 Discussion Consumption of bottled water has increased quite a bit over the past few years as more and more people opt for bottled water rather than tap water. There are several reasons for people switching from tap water to bottled water. Accessibility, taste and quality are the main reasons for choosing bottled water over tap water. We all are well aware of the benefits of water and its significance for human beings. Absorbing nutrients, regulating body temperature and metabolism are some of the main factors that make consumption of water so important for human beings (Importance of Water to Lead a Healthy Life, n.d.). These and other benefits of water can only be achieved if the required measures are taken before bottling the water. For instance, fluoride is very important for human body but sometimes the bottled water may not contain the required quantity of fluoride in it. Water should be properly treated and an optimum manufacturing method should be adopted. Also, contamination should be avoided while using bottled water (Commercially Bottled Water, n.d.). The food we eat and the way we eat plays a vital role in downfall of our health. Cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and stroke are all caused mainly due to poor nutritional attitude. As concerns about obesity are on the rise all over the world, food chains are coming up with even more attractive marketing ideas for selling highly-refined, calorie-dense food items (Food and Food Purchasing, n.d.). However, with the consumers’ health consciousness on the rise, global markets have successfully introduced healthy products which has achieved market share quite easily. Organic and functional food products are highly promoted by global market so as to encourage healthy eating habits in children and adults alike and are consumed by the customers for their health-promoting properties. As far as healthy eating and drinking products are concerned, market is doing quite well as more and more people are opting for healthy rather than junk food. A consumer’s insight and understanding of healthy 3 food and its main elements are the main reason for success of market orientation and growth and for successfully negotiating market prospects (Azzurra & Paola, 2009). Main objective of social marketing, as far as eating products are concerned, is to provide healthy food products. The most common reason for the younger generation going out for dinner rather than eating at home is either socializing or maybe they just do not want to cook for themselves. Either way, it has driven a large number of youngsters out of their homes and towards the restaurants serving fast food which has eventually resulted in an increase in fast food industry. Furthermore, fast food outlets attract their customers because of their quick and efficient service and low rates (Untaru & Ispas, 2013). Foods industries keep in mind the needs, taste and preferences of their consumers while highlighting the reasonable prices of their products for attracting them towards their outlets. Most of the customers focus on value items whenever they go to a restaurant as recession economy forces them to cut down their expenditures and save as much as possible. Advertising low price meals on a daily basis also compels young adults to eat fast food instead of a healthy meal cooked at home (Che En & Yazdanifard, 2013). Eating habits of baby boomers and the sheer number of these consumers have affected the corporate policies of food and beverage manufacturers and they strive to stay ahead of their rival industries. Approximately 81 percent of this age group tends to eat at home rather than dine out. They mostly opt for cooking fresh vegetables and meat along with a packaged soup which is why these food industries try their level best to highlight the best features of their products through marketing strategies such as advertisement. But the Hartman Group claims that majority of the people aged 55 and above tend to eat alone most of the time which means they consume comparatively smaller meals. Therefore, Consumer Packaged Goods companies offer a variety of products in a single pack (Baby Boomers’ Eating Habits Will Affect Your Business, n.d.). Baby boomers seem to be cooking in while millennial favor 4 dinning out while socializing with their friends and co-workers. Baby boomers are preferring to go grocery shopping rather than dinning out with people. While millennial prefer food items like pizza and burgers, baby boomers favor fresh vegetables and home-cooked meat with soup. Eating habits vary from region to region and so does obesity. For instance, more the 30 percent of the American is obese as compared to 11 percent of France. A number of healthy and appealing food options, price and value of food are what most baby boomers are concerned about while deciding a meal. They tend to focus more on the nutritional value of the food item rather than studying the product and its constituents. This age group matured in a time of social disruption and rise of mass marketing. They may be set in their ways but they are also open to new and innovative ideas related to food; it’s cooking as well as its preparation. As much as they are willing to try new trends of food, they do not usually are capable to go through a changeover until and unless they face a rather grave situation related to their health or living conditions. In order to understand the needs of baby boomers, marketers need to know the way they live and what their preferences are in terms of food and beverages (Baby Boomer Lifestyle Traits & Trends, 2006). 5 References Azzurra, A. and Paola, P. (2009). Consumers' behaviors and attitudes toward healthy food products: The case of Organic and Functional foods Baby Boomers’ Eating Habits Will Affect Your Business. N.d. Retrieved from http://www.doingwhatsgood.us/growth/fullpost/baby-boomers-eating-habits-willaffect-your-business Baby Boomer Lifestyle Traits & Trends. (August 22, 2006). Hartman Group. Retrieved from http://hartbeat.hartman-group.com/article/151/Baby-Boomer-Lifestyle-Traits-Trends Che En, L and Yazdanifard, R. (November, 2013). The Significance of Promotional Marketing Strategies in Fast Food Industries. Commercially Bottled Water. n.d. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/bottled/ Food and Food Purchasing. n.d. Importance of Water to Lead a Healthy Life, n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.yourstandardlife.com/archives/4-Importance-of-Water-to-Lead-a-HealthLife.html Untaru, Elena-Nicoleta and Ispas, Ana. (2013). Why Do Young People Prefer Restaurants? An Exploratory Study. Journal of Tourism. Issue 15. Fast-Food