Moldavians preferences of having lunch in town

We wake up sleepy in the morning, sip coffee made in haste and barely get to eat something before we find ourselves among the thousands of people rushing to work. We drink another cup of coffee at work, light a cigarette or take a piece of chocolate to pamper our soul, but our poor stomach, if only it can speak, for certainly we would be addressed so many nice words or we even we would be sworn for the way we treat our stomach and for the “healthy” food we feed it with. Due to the chronic lack of time, we eat when and where we find time: a snack while walking, home prepared sandwiches, lunch or dinner in a public canteen/café and sometimes in a restaurant with a special occasion.

There is a category of Moldovans who dine exclusively at home, either due to lack of money, either from dietary considerations. Magenta Consulting established the goal to find out what are the preferences of Moldavians of dinning out. On a sample of 1400 respondents, the results pointed out that more than half of Moldavians don’t lunch in town or if they do that, it is very seldom.

Therefore, 36% of Moldavians prefer to get dinner somewhere in town, of which: 5% do this every day, 8% eat several times a week other 8% - once a week, another 8% - 2-3 times a month and 7% - once a month.

Figure 1. Moldavians preferences of dinning out, N=815, %

Among those who have lunch in town every day or several times a week, the largest share is covered by the persons aged 20-34, men’s share being twice double then the share of women, also people whose income is higher than 6000 MDL per family member, those who finished their higher education, and those who live in concubinage or are single. These are people who have a very active lifestyle and don’t have enough time to cook. They consider that it would take many more resources (time, money) to cook than going out for dinner. Besides, this time could be spent in a more pleasant way.

Several times a month, mostly young people have lunch in town, especially postgraduates, those with more than 5000 MDL as monthly income and those who live in concubinage or are single.

It should be mentioned that having lunch out is a characteristic of those who have no obligations, because married persons cook more often at home, therefore spending some time together during dinner.

Among those who don’t eat out, mos of them are older than 45 years, with a monthly income lower than 1500 MDL per family member, and also those who are widowed and divorced.

In the last years, the number of places where you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a cup of coffee has increased due to the fact that the consumption culture of Moldavians who prefer to eat out instead of at home has also significantly changed.

In regard to the chosen places to eat out, more than half of Moldavians prefer going to a pizzeria, 42% - to a café, one third - to terraces, a quarter of Moldavians generally eat at cafeterias, and only 16% prefer and can afford to have their meal at restaurants.

Figure 2: Moldavians preferences of having lunch in town, N= 815, %

It must be mentioned that restaurants are chosen in a greater extent by persons of 30-34 years, with higher education, monthly incomes of 3000-4000 MDL and over 5000 MDL, and married persons. For those who are married going out to have dinner in a restaurant could be a way to keep alive the romance and love in the couple.

*Methodological remark: the research was carried on a sample of 1400 respondents aged 14-65 from 24 towns (error margin of +/-2, 6%), the respondents being offered to choose among various places where they prefer to have lunch in town, and only one answer possible about the frequency of going out eating.