At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- CREST is NPD’s flagship information service. It captures consumer information about commercially prepared meals and snacks. Respondents report on their out-of-home eating at a variety of locations for a variety of meals and foods.
- Foods include: Breakfast Oriented Foods, Burgers/Sandwiches/Wraps, Main Dish/Entree, Side Dishes/Appetizers, Breads/Sweet Rolls, Desserts and Snacks.
- Key measures include whether an individual ate out the previous day, type and location of where they ate, when and what they ate, use of combos or special menus, and cost.
- Beverages include: Beverage Alcohol, Bottled Water, Coffee, Juice, Milk, Shakes, Smoothies, Soft Drinks, Tea
- Settings include: Commercial Foodservice: Quick Service Restaurants (Sandwich, Mexican, Specialty, Snack, C-Store and Food Stores), Full Service Restaurants (Midscale, Casual Dining and Fine Dining), Non-Commercial Foodservice incl. Business & Industry, College & University, Secondary Schools, Hospitals, Senior Care, Military, Vending.
Website
https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/industry-expertise/foodservice/
Purpose
To collect data about individuals’ consumption of food away from home in the United States.
Target Population
U.S. consumers, ages 2 years and older.
Conducted
Began in September 1976. Most recent year conducted was 2019.
Sponsor
The NPD Group.
Special Note(s)
The NPD Group.
laura.jurek@npd.com
847-685-1051
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional panel survey. Participants complete the NPD survey using an online questionnaire. The sample is geographically balanced and projected to represent the U.S. Census.
Sample Size
The CREST database consists of consumer responses for over 60,000 commercial restaurant visits, and 12,000 non-commercial visits each month.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Age | Interview/questionnaire |
| Sex | Interview/questionnaire |
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Time/date meal consumed | Interview/questionnaire |
| Type and location of restaurant | Interview/questionnaire |
| Foods and beverages consumed | Interview/questionnaire |
| Who meal was consumed with | Interview/questionnaire |
| Use of promotions | Interview/questionnaire |
| Use of alternative menus | Interview/questionnaire |
| Cost of meal | Interview/questionnaire |
Geographic Identifiers
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Census region | N/A |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Obtain data by contacting NPD Group:
contactnpd@npd.com
866-444-1411
Cost
Fee-based.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Census Region
Existing Linkages
None noted.
Selected Publications
Ng SW, Popkin BM. Monitoring food and nutrients sold and consumed in the United States: Dynamics and challenges. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2012;112(1):41-45.
