Social factors

Social factors are things that affect lifestyle, such as religion, family or wealth. These can change over time. Food developers need to be aware of these changes to make foods that meet the needs of consumers.

For example, consumers now expect to find a wide range of foods. This is because:

• communities are more multicultural, meaning they are made up of different races and religions, often with their own traditional cuisines
• TV cookery programmes encourage people to try new foods
• increased travel abroad means exposure to new foods
• improved transportation and technology means less reliance on local or seasonal produce