Changes are taking place in the food buying patterns of the
chareidi sector in Israel. According to a recent survey,
during the past year 51 percent of chareidi households
purchased more health care products, says Avraham Kringel,
chairman of the Marketing Committee of the Manufacturers'
Association. Meanwhile 31 percent of chareidi households did
not change their purchasing habits and 7 percent bought fewer
health care products.
Kringel says the survey shows 46 percent of chareidi
households bought dietetic products with lower fat content,
31 percent did not change their buying pattern and 11 percent
bought fewer diet items.
One-fourth of chareidi households reported buying more
premium products (e.g. herbal tea, olive oil, etc.), 20
percent do not buy premium products, 38 percent reported no
change and 17 percent bought fewer such items.
Health care, diet and premium items are purchased more
frequently by chareidi households with higher income
levels.
Kringel notes the survey, conducted by the Geocartographic
Institute, shows 29 percent of chareidi households say they
buy fewer prepared foods compared to previous years, while 20
percent say they buy more. Another 39 percent said their
purchasing habits remain unchanged and 2 percent claimed, "We
never prepare food at home."
Among chareidi households that are purchasing more prepared
foods 33 percent buy cakes, 29 percent buy other baked goods,
20 percent buy schnitzel, 19 percent buy bread, 19 percent
buy salads (which includes certain spreads), 15 percent buy
sausages/chicken breasts/hot dogs, 10 percent buy frozen
burekas, malawach and pizza, 7 percent buy
other frozen foods, 4 percent buy ready-made food and 2
percent buy gefilte fish in jars.
According to the survey, 630,000 chareidi live in Israel in
115,000 family units. The average chareidi family is
comprised of 5.45 family members, 1.75 times more than the
average Jewish family in Israel, which numbers 3.12 family
members.
