QUEBEC, June 1 — The results of a new market research report for Canada reveal an interesting nuance that makes Quebec diners stand out from the rest of the country: While Quebec consumers view dining out as a social experience, the rest of Canadians say they dine out to treat or reward themselves.

That’s according to a new report from Mintel, which teased out dining trends across the country, and found different trends along demographic and regional lines.

Overall, the survey found that more Canadians are dining out today than they were two years ago: More than half of Canadians said they dine out at least once a week, compared to 42 per cent in 2016.

While the most popular reasons cited for eating out included viewing the experience as a treat and enjoying food people don’t normally prepare at home, pollsters noted a difference among Quebec respondents, who cited the social value of eating out with friends.

In other words, Quebecers are less likely to need a special occasion to eat out.

"Quebecers are more likely to see dining out as a social experience, suggesting that eating out is perhaps less of a special-occasion occurrence, but still a highly communal and personally meaningful one,” said Carol Wong-Li, Senior Lifestyle and Leisure Analyst at Mintel in a statement. 

"Consumers from this region also tend to dine out more at traditional eating occasions than the average Canadian,” she added.

The report also reveals that younger consumers across Canada aged 18 — 24 are more likely to snack and eat out during non-traditional meal times, be it a snack, late-night meal or brunch, compared to their older counterparts.

Of all the age groups, they’re also the most frequent restaurant visitors, with two-thirds of young diners reporting that they eat out at least once a week, despite their limited financial means.

Analysts also highlight the impact of social media on dining trends within the younger demographic: Instagrammable experiences and trends like rainbow-coloured drinks and unicorn-themed foods or black charcoal ice cream are surefire ways to draw younger consumers, said Wong-Li. — AFP-Relaxnews