This Valentine's Day, staying in may be the new going out. According to ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG)'s Dining In Survey, 52 percent of Millennials think cooking at home is more romantic than going out to eat, and over the past three years, a quarter of Millennials have been increasingly cooking at home for the holiday. What to prepare remains a question; 84 percent say they lack recipe ideas for a romantic evening at home.
Taking a cue, ConAgra Foods brands including Hunt's tomatoes, Alexia Foods and Reddi-wip are offering a tempting collection of Valentine's Day meal ideas through partnerships with Internet cooking show host Laura Vitale ("Laura in the Kitchen") and grocery delivery service Instacart. Laura will provide recipe inspiration and instruction via two Valentine's Day recipes and how-to cooking videos posted to her YouTube channel. With one click, consumers can then add ingredients for the recipe to a virtual basket, and Instacart will deliver everything to their door in little as one hour.
"According to our survey, Millennials enjoy the experience of spending Valentine's Day in, but they need some help pulling the meal together," said Brett Groom, ConAgra Foods senior vice president. "Our online partners, 'Laura in the Kitchen' and Instacart, offer an ideal solution for a perfect romantic dinner at home."
According to the survey, 56 percent of Millennials will find their Valentine's Day recipe by either searching on the web or watching an online cooking show. Additionally:
- Millennials will look for a recipe that fits a $50-$100 budget.
- They want to prepare an Italian dish, saying it's the most romantic cuisine.
- Finding a "unique" recipe is the most important criteria for choosing the perfect meal.