Based on the data in the report, the minister stressed that the Spanish show their preference for fresh food, which reflects "the productive diversity of agriculture, livestock and fisheries in our country" and which are the basis of the Mediterranean Diet.

As he has indicated, food tells us a lot about the evolution of the profile of our society and our culture. They are the result of the effort of producers, industry and distribution, which form a basic and important chain, which has been demonstrated, above all, during the confinement in which the supply of food has been assured.

In addition to a global vision, this year the report delves into the sociodemographic analysis, where the factors with the greatest influence on the evolution of consumption are analyzed, as well as more complete information on the food and beverages that Spaniards have consumed in 2019. Likewise, the minister has presented data on food consumption in households during the COVID-19 crisis, through weekly monitoring that the Ministry has exceptionally carried out through the Consumer Panel during this period.

He has detailed that the total expenditure of Spaniards on food reached 105,465.2 million euros, with an increase of 2.3% compared to 2018, maintaining the growing trend of recent years. Of the total expenditure, 69,503.13 million euros correspond to domestic consumption (65.9%) and 35,962.07 million to consumption made outside the home (34.1%).

In volume, total consumption reached 33,303.08 million kg or liters, a figure very similar to that registered last year (33,464.38 M. kg / l). Of this amount, 86.1% was carried out at home and 13.9% outside the home.

These amounts mean that each Spaniard spent an average of 2,567.17 euros on food in 2019, for an average per capita consumption of 758.19 kilos-liters of food and beverages.

Consumption in Spanish households

In relation to consumption in Spanish households, Planas has pointed out that food expenditure amounted to 69,503.1 million euros in 2019, which represents an increase of 1.4% compared to the previous year. This increase in spending is due to the increase registered in the average price of food (1.8%), since the total volume purchased registered a slight decrease of 0.4%.

Per capita consumption within the household represented an average amount of 621.67 kg / l. Fruits are the foods that suppose a greater volume of consumption per person and year (90.9 kg), followed by vegetables, potatoes and vegetables (84.6 kg.) And milk (69.3 kg.)

In this area, fresh products represent an important part of domestic consumption, with 43.1% of total spending and 39.8% of volume. The consumption of this type of food denotes some stability, with slight increases compared to 2018, both in value (+ 1.9%) and in volume (+ 0.1%). The rest of the supply registered an increase of 1.1% in value, although it lost 0.7% in volume.

Fresh fruits, vegetables and potatoes, along with milk and milk derivatives, account for 44.4% of the kilos consumed. In value, 20.6% is spent on total meat and 12.9% on total fish. These two groups represent 33.5% of the household food budget.

According to the minister, "the consumer takes care of himself and his food" and is willing to pay more for products with higher added value, to reduce alcoholic products and to spend more on extra virgin olive oil or whole milk.

He stressed that the Spanish show a clear trend towards the consumption of natural and quality products, as well as a greater concern for the reduction of protein consumption.

Regarding consumption by type of household, households made up of couples with children are the ones that concentrate the highest proportion of consumption in relation to their weight in the population, along with adult couples without children. Retirees, who are 23.2% of households, represent 23% of consumption. Meanwhile, youth homes, in addition to being the least numerous, also consume less at home.

On the other hand, the Autonomous Communities with the highest per capita consumption at home are the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, the Canary Islands, Galicia, Castilla y León and the Valencian Community, all above the national average. By value, the highest per capita spending occurs in the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

In relation to sales establishments, the supermarket is the preferred channel for consumers to make their purchases, representing 48.2% of purchases of food products. Within this channel, fresh food grew slightly, with an evolution of 1.5%, while the rest of food lost 0.7% of the volume compared to the previous year.

Second, with 15.4% of the total volume of purchases, discount stores are consolidated, although in 2019 they show a loss of 3.6% of volume compared to the previous year. Traditional stores have a weight of 13.8% of total purchases, but lose 3.5% of the purchase volume compared to the same period of the previous year. However, in fresh food the role of the traditional store increases (29.9%). For its part, electronic commerce shows significant growth, both in fresh food and in the rest (+ 18% in total).

Feeding outside the home

During the year 2019, spending on food and beverages outside the home amounted to 35,962.07 million euros, which is equivalent to 4,633.70 million kg-liters and about 16,718.59 million consumption in general terms. In volume, it hardly changed compared to the previous year (-0.1%), but it did have an economic impact for the sector of 4.1%, due to the 4.2% increase in the average price compared to the previous year.

Each person consumes 136.62 kg-liters of food products outside the home. Average per capita spending outside the home was 1,060.29 euros, of which 60.6% went to food and 39.4% to beverages.

The good evolution in general of cold drinks, such as cider, beer and water, stands out, while drinks such as wines or spirits lose intensity of consumption during the year 2019. Meanwhile, the consumption of some hot drinks, such as coffee and milk, intensifies, but not the infusions.

By products, the most consumed were: fruits and vegetables (27.3%), meat (14.9%) and bread (11.6%). Fish and shellfish maintain a volume ratio of 9.5% and pastries would have a 5.7% share of the total volume.

Consumption outside the home is made directly in the establishment in 74.1% of the occasions, both at lunch and dinner, which are the times of the day where consumption increases the most.

Food consumption trends

In general terms, a large part of consumption continues to be concentrated in main meals and breakfast (77.8% of total occasions), although breakfast registers a decrease in consumption occasions within the home (-0.4%) . Salty breakfasts increase while sweets decrease (1.7% and -0.1% respectively).

There is a change towards the simplification of the lunch and dinner menu, where unique dishes grow (0.5%) compared to more complex or complete menus, especially at dinner. This simplification does not mean that you cook less, since recipe dishes grow 2.5%, as well as dishes to share (+ 7.7% occasions).

As for the preparation method, the trend towards quick and healthy cooking methods is consolidated: griddle, uncooked / cold or boiled, are the forms of preparation that best keep the essence and properties of food.

Evolution of consumption during the pandemic

Planas has advanced the main data on food purchases by Spaniards during the period of confinement to face the health crisis of COVID-19. "The pandemic has provided us with the opportunity to rediscover the value of food, both from the point of view of health and gastronomy," according to Planas. This period has also demonstrated the importance of the Spanish agri-food sector and the entire food chain, which has made "an enormous effort to guarantee food supplies at all times".

Planas has pointed out that, due to the impossibility of consuming outside the home, there has been a greater domestic consumption in relation to the previous year. For this reason, there are categories of food that have been bought more than last year to consume at home, although this does not mean that consumption that was previously carried out outside the home is compensated.

With aggregate data on consumption for the 13 weeks (from March 9 to June 7), consumption in the home has grown by 24.5%, representing 1,635 million more kilos of food and beverages than in the same last year's period. Expenditure was 28.4% higher, standing at 4,586 million euros more, due to an increase in the average price of 3%.

The increase in purchases for the home was especially intense during the weeks prior to the declaration of the state of alarm, due to the collection of food that many households carried out. As the state of alarm was advanced, the increase in purchases compared to the same weeks of the previous year has been sustained, but more moderate. And as the different autonomous communities progressed through the different de-escalation phases, this differential is reduced.

Depending on the type of food, the increase has been more or less homogeneous in both fresh and non-fresh food. Although storage products were stockpiled in the first few weeks, the shopping baskets have subsequently been standardized.

In this period, purchases of pantry bottom products (flour and semolina, rice, legumes, potatoes, oils or preserves), base products for the preparation of homemade dishes and food for the preparation of pastries have grown.

The consumption of products that were previously made outside the home, such as snacks, beers, spirits or wine, has also increased. Planas has clarified that this does not mean that Spaniards drink more, since growth does not compensate for the loss of consumption in hospitality.

The minister described as "a collective achievement" the response given by citizens to the call for the consumption of products that had especially suffered the closure of the hospitality industry, such as sheep and goats or fresh fish.

All purchasing channels have seen increased sales. During these days, the Spanish have shown their preference for supermarkets, with almost half of the kg / l purchased and the expenditure made. The traditional store has been the second most chosen place, with a 15.2% share and growing almost 30%. And notable has been the growth of Internet sales, with an increase of 92% in volume and 114.5% in value.



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