SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTION

Question 1

What are the main SOCIAL CHANGES?

Answer 1

• Disposable household income & food purchase
• Changing nature of family
• Patterns of work
• Changes in eating patterns
• Changes in leisure patterns
• Population movement
• Food access within the community
• Influence of the media

Question 2

Why are there SOCIAL CHANGES in the UK?

Answer 2

• Since ww2 there are many factors that now affect FOOD PRODUCTION & FOOD CHOICE

Question 3

What is DISPOSABLE INCOME?

Answer 3

= It determines standard of living for households

• It is the money left over after bills are paid
• It has increased over the last 25 years
• Its being spent on leisure & technology
• Lower incomes spend most of their money on food

Question 4

How does DISPOSABLE INCOME affect the UK FOOD PRODUCTION?

Answer 4

• Rises in price of food affects people’s budgets
• Increase costs of FUEL/ ENERGY has implications on retailers
• ECONOMIC DOWNTURN mean more VALUE ranges are being purchased & more BUDGET supermarkets are being shopped at
• Food retailers now try to accommodate for all Incomes

Question 5

How are FAMILIES & HOUSEHOLDS changing?

Answer 5

• increased life expectancy = more people living alone

- More single person households than there has ever been

Question 6

How have retailers RESPONDED to these changes in HOUSEHOLDS?

Answer 6

• Smaller sizes EG. Half loaves

- Single portion ready meals

Question 7

How do PATTERNS OF WORK affect UK FOOD PRODUCTION?

Answer 7

• It affects people’s eating habits
• Huge increase in women working since 1992
  = less time to prepare food
  = women putting their career’s first
  = increase in convenience foods
• Less ingredients are being used to prep meals
• Time taken to cook is less than 20 mins compared to 1hr in 1950’s

Question 8

What are the popular eating habits of BUSY PEOPLE in the UK?

Answer 8

• Dash-board dining

- On the go foods

Question 9

How are our EATING PATTERNS changing?

Answer 9

• People eating at different times
• People travel greater distances from work
• People skip breakfast
• Less formal meal times

Question 10

How has the UK FOOD INDUSTRY adapted to suit our changing EATING PATTERNS?

Answer 10

• Microwavable foods
• Snack foods for on the go
• On the go breakfasts/meals
• Convenience foods ( porridge pots )
• Grazing & snacking foods

Question 11

What are the main CHANGES OF LEISURE PATTERNS in the UK?

Answer 11

• Increased leisure time = less time spent in the home
• Eating out
• Growth in restaurants/ pubs/ takeaways

Question 12

How has the UK FOOD INDUSTRY adapted to suit our INCREASED LEISURE TIME?

Answer 12

• Part-prepped products ( stir in sauces )

- Ready meals as exotic foods are more popular as people go on more holidays

Question 13

How has POPULATION MOVEMENT in the UK affected our FOOD INDUSTRY?

Answer 13

• Migration has increased consumer choice
• Different culture = new tastes/ styles/ foods
• Tourism & travel has also widened this

Question 14

How has FOOD ACCESS IN THE COMMUNITY changed in the UK?

Answer 14

• Large supermarkets are the main source of good quality & affordable food

Question 15

How has TRANSPORT affected FOOD ACCESS in the UK?

Answer 15

• Cars make shopping easier as 70% of households own one
• Without cars makes shopping harder ( elderly)
• Those on low incomes with limited transport are affected as they may not be able to get to the more affordable shops
• Supermarkets are making more and more affordable prices to compete with smaller/local businesses

Question 16

How does INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA affect UK FOOD INDUSTRY?

Answer 16

• We aspire to cultural role models
• Influenced by their eating habits
• Increase in social media = recipes are widely available
• Use of a product on TV increases the demand for it
• Raises concerns for moral issues too ( animal welfare )