A day in the life of a working woman

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A man’s work is from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done. Joe Song’s study of Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that prime-age employed women are working longer hours during the week and spending more time caring for family (children, aging parents, and pets) on weekends. Women appear to be taking better care of themselves – sleeping, exercising and learning more – while spending less time on housework and shopping. The need to shop more efficiently has contributed to ecommerce gaining share at the expense of traditional retailers. Men have taken on some household chores, but we suspect either more work is outsourced (housekeeping and laundry services) or houses are dirtier. Food (selection and preparation) is one of the few areas where men and women are making greater efforts. Education levels are rising as well.

Americans spend half of their food budget dining out, up from 30% fifty years ago, but Xavier Le Mené sees few signs that Europeans are eating out more. Food away from home consumed only 25% of the food budget in France and less than a third in Germany and Italy. Since 2000, grocery spending has outpaced food away from home throughout Europe, except for a recent surge in the UK and Germany. Health and wellness has become a greater priority globally, but seems somewhat less important to Europeans. Still with consumers increasingly valuing convenience, European food retailers have adopted online retail quicker than their US counterparts though online share is still only 2%. Last-mile delivery models prove most successful in cities and click-to-pickup models appear more economical via centralized warehouses. Winners must embrace fresh food trends, meal solutions, and online ordering.