Oakville, Ontario… Over the years, behaviors in the home have dramatically shifted. When it comes to socializing, many people prefer a night in with close company to a night out on the town. Sharing meals and entertaining guests have become more popular, and Canadians have adapted to these adjusted routines initially brought on by the pandemic.
According to a new survey by Moen*, the number one consumer faucet brand in North America, Canadians prefer to host at home, but this comes with its struggles.
How the Pandemic Has Impacted Kitchen Routines
In fact, according to the Moen survey, nearly 42% of Canadians cook daily, and of those who do, 33% reported an increased frequency since 2020.
But why the change? Nearly 45% of Canadian homeowners who are cooking more frequently say it’s healthier for their families and 27% would rather stay home.
Hosting Comes with Hurdles, but Being Home Reigns Supreme
While many homeowners routinely cook, in many cases, it is driven by choice: the desire to entertain. As a way to create more social environments, nearly 43% of Canadians claim they host as a reason to spend time with friends and family they love.
While hosting should allow people to connect and enjoy company, meal preparation can pull hosts away from the party. Although 47% find it enjoyable but stressful, nearly 63% say preparation and cleanup are their biggest stressors when it comes to hosting. To combat this, nearly half of respondents "clean as they go” to curb post-party stress. Interestingly, though, the survey revealed a gender difference: For instance, women were more likely than men to report they cleaned as they went (by a difference of 6.4 percentage points).
Though mouthwatering dishes certainly contribute to a memorable gathering, the pressure of planning, shopping and prepping can eclipse the joy of entertaining and hinder hosts’ abilities to fully enjoy their company.
This data begs the question, why do Canadians prefer to have people over? Affordability and comfort were among the primary reasons. Whether relaxing with family, inviting a small group of friends, or throwing a bash, the benefits of being home can outweigh the tasks affiliated with hosting.
Homeowners Enjoy Cooking for Guests but Seek Solutions to Minimize Struggles
When it comes to achieving the perfect meal, it’s easy to enjoy the moment, savor the food, and embrace company. But the reality is not that simple. The survey found the biggest setbacks with the cooking process were nearly a three-way tie between time consumption (24%), expensive ingredients (23%) and kitchen cleanup (23%).
Moen discovered that the typical meal takes one to two hours between preparation and cleaning up for most Canadians (53%), while 59% wish it were far less demanding, taking less than an hour. Between the packed schedules and demanding priorities many people experience routinely, whipping up breakfast, lunch and dinner can feel more like a burden than enjoyment.
“The kitchen is the centerpiece of the home and often where people spend a lot of their time,” said Sinit Rin, group category manager, kitchen, Moen. “At Moen, we are developing products that help homeowners alleviate everyday struggles throughout the home and make their experiences positive, especially in the kitchen.”
As Moen's research shows, cleanup and preparation are among the least desired tasks in the kitchen. The Moen Smart Faucet with Motion Control offers unparalleled convenience to elevate culinary endeavors. The fixture’s sensor technology allows homeowners to control the water temperature and flow through hand motions when hands are messy with ingredients or through voice activation to dispense exact measurements for recipes. Available in a variety of styles and finishes, the Smart Faucet with Motion Control offers aesthetic appeal along with functionality.
For those seeking a more traditional faucet that can ease both preparation and cleanup, the Moen Cia™ kitchen faucet with Power Boost™ Pro spray technology offers a perfect solution. The enhanced spray technology and lever adds even more power to the kitchen sink, allowing homeowners to customize their spray pressure from a gentle stream when washing vegetables to a powerful boosted spray when cleaning the sink or filling pots.
Similarly, Moen Garbage Disposals help make kitchen cleanup a breeze, minimizing the number of trips to the garbage can and allowing for efficient food disposal. Moen designed various options based on how people use their kitchens and offers a fit for everyone—from the at-home chef and frequent entertainer to TV dinner connoisseurs.
As Canadian homeowners opt to spend more time at home, cooking and entertainment trends are changing. However, people are looking for products that make staying home less demanding and more fulfilling. Moen strives to address these challenges through innovative product technology that helps streamline kitchen workflow and transform everyday tasks into rewarding experiences.
For more information on Moen, visit www.moen.ca.
*The Moen 2024 Homeowner Trends Survey was conducted in partnership with Falls & Co. December 28, 2023-January 2, 2024, among 1,000 Canadian homeowners aged 18 and up. The survey had a margin of error of +/-3.1%, estimated at a 95% confidence interval.
ABOUT MOEN
Moen is the #1 consumer faucet brand in North America, offering a vast array of stylish and innovative kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products, garbage disposals, leak detection products and connected home offerings for residential applications that give consumers more power than ever before to understand and control the water that flows through their homes. These thoughtful designs deliver an exceptional user experience and elevate the way people interact with water every day. In addition, Moen® Commercial offers superior-performing products that can deliver lower lifetime costs for today's facilities.
Moen is part of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: FBIN), a brand, innovation and channel leader focused on exciting, supercharged categories in the home products, security and commercial building markets. Moen anchors Water Innovations (WINN), which also includes several brands under the House of Rohl® including Perrin & Rowe®, ROHL®, Riobel®, Shaws® and Victoria + Albert®. Fortune Brands’ other brands include Fiberon® composite decking and railing products; Master Lock®, Yale® residential, August® and Sentry® Safe security products; LARSON® storm doors and windows and Therma-Tru® entry door systems. For more information, please visit www.FBIN.com.
CONTACT
Emily Baker or Theresa Wallenhorst
Falls & Co.
(216) 696-0229
ebaker@fallsandco.com
twallenhorst@fallsandco.com