Factor: Americans Would Ditch Social Media to Escape Meal Planning
Social media may dominate our lives, but dinner decisions hold an even stronger grip. A new nationwide survey from Factor, a leading ready-to-eat delivery service, reveals how mealtime stress is reshaping priorities for couples and families.
From relationship dynamics to daily decision fatigue, Factor’s findings spotlight just how much emotional and mental energy is spent answering the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?” Forty-six percent of Americans admitted they would willingly ditch social media forever just to escape the hassle of planning meals.
“A stress-free dinner is the ultimate love language,” said Leonard Hollander, Senior Principal of Culinary Innovation at Factor. “Whether you’re dining in on Valentine’s Day or enjoying a family dinner, Factor is taking the pressure off planning and putting the focus back on connection. Nothing kills the mood faster than ‘What’s for dinner?’ With our delicious, chef-crafted meals, we’re making it easy to serve up romance and family time without the hassle.”
Americans Are Ready to Sacrifice for Stress-Free Meals
Factor’s survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, found that dinner planning is one of the most stressful daily decisions for many adults. In fact, an impressive number of respondents (68%) say deciding what to eat is their biggest meal time challenge, with nearly half of couples (44%) struggling to come up with a plan most nights.
To escape this daily headache, Americans are willing to give up their most beloved habits and destination dreams or submit to their most dreaded chores:
- Cutting the Crutches: Almost half (46%) would delete social media forever, a quarter (25%) would give up their morning coffee, while a smaller number of respondents (21%) would cancel their streaming subscriptions.
- Bon Voyage, Vacay: Nearly half (44%) would rather have dinner planned, prepared, and served every night by someone else than take a dream vacay!
- DMV Over Dinnertime: Some adults (15%) even said they’d rather brave the DMV than plan a week’s worth of meals.
Dinner Decisions Are Also Breaking Relationships
- Food Fight!: The survey also uncovered how mealtime stress impacts relationships, with a quarter of couples (25%) getting in “food fights,” arguing about dinner one to two times per week.
- Step Aside, Flowers. Dinner Wins Valentine’s Day: It’s not just about saving time; it’s about shifting priorities. When asked about the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, over half of adults (53%) would rather have dinner covered for a month than receive flowers or chocolates.
- Snacks For Dinner? Been There: And when there’s no plan, couples are left frustrated, with women (62%) most likely to cobble together a meal from fridge leftovers, while men (55%) are more likely to order takeout.
- Foreplay? More Like “Four-Course Play”: Eliminating mealtime stress may just be the key to a healthy relationship—in the kitchen and the bedroom. In fact, more than half of respondents (53%) think that the hottest form of foreplay is not having to plan and cook dinner, and nearly half of adults (44%) —and over half of parents (55%) —admitted they would get intimate more often if their partner handled dinner.
Factor: The Ultimate Meal Planning Solution
Factor was created to eliminate the dinner decision dilemma altogether, so you don’t have to part with the things you love like your morning coffee, your nightly binge-watch—and your romantic partner. By delivering ready-made, chef-prepared meals in just two minutes, Factor takes care of the planning, shopping and cooking, so you don’t have to. With a rotating menu of dietitian-approved options, Factor allows busy individuals and couples to spend more time doing what they love and less time arguing over dinner.
For couples opting to stay in this Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to Factor’s decadent 2-course meal featuring Grilled Filet Mignon with Asiago Butter, White Cheddar-Scallion Mashed Potatoes with Broccolini & Toasted Garlic Butter and Vanilla Almond Cheesecake with Chocolate & Cherry Sauces. For more information, visit www.factormeals.com.
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ALDI Plans to Open 225+ Stores in 2025
ALDI, the fastest-growing grocer in the U.S., announced its plan to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of the next phase of its five-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores the company will open in one year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history as more shoppers than ever look to save up to 36% on an average shopping trip.
The new stores will open through a combination of organic growth and converting select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the ALDI format. In total, the company will convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to its format through 2027.
As part of the strategy, ALDI has closed a transaction to divest approximately 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores that are not part of the conversion plan to a consortium including C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers senior leadership and private investors. This transaction allows ALDI to create a focused conversion portfolio in the Southeast as it progresses its expansion plans across the country.
“When we announced our acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, we shared that we intended for a meaningful number of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate, and we’re delivering on that promise while also supporting ALDI growth. Over the last year, we’ve seen firsthand how C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers and their teams have continued to deliver great quality, service and value to their customers, and we are confident they will lead the company successfully into its next chapter,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI.
“Converting the remaining locations to the ALDI format is critically important to our nationwide commitment to help shoppers fill their carts with quality groceries for less. As shoppers continue to feel sticker shock at the checkout, the value ALDI delivers can’t be beat,” added Hart.
Grand openings for the first several converted Southeastern Grocers stores are underway, with approximately 100 converted locations re-opening as ALDI stores by the end of 2025.
In addition to its Southeast expansion, ALDI will add to its established footprint in the Northeast and Midwest regions, grow its presence in the West with more stores in Southern California and Arizona, and enter new communities, like Las Vegas. As the company grows its footprint to serve more customers, it also brings its employee-focused culture and industry-leading pay and benefits to more communities.
“ALDI continues to see more shoppers come through our doors as they experience our quicker, easier and more affordable shopping experience firsthand,” said Hart. “With our expansion across the country, ALDI is earning the trust of more shoppers in more communities than ever before, bringing us closer to becoming America’s first stop for groceries.”
Last year, the company opened nearly 120 stores, bringing its total store count to over 2,400 and solidifying its position as the third-largest grocery chain by store count in the U.S. More than one-in-four American households shop at ALDI for its affordable, quality groceries, which is double the amount from just six years ago. With shoppers saving money with every trip, more shoppers are flocking to ALDI than ever before.
Deutsche Bank served as financial advisor. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP was transaction counsel and Kayne Law Group served as co- real estate counsel.
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Dr. Praeger’s Introduces Mexican-Style Street Corn Cheesy Bites
Dr. Praeger’s, a trusted name in better-for-you frozen foods, is building on the success of its category-leading snack offerings with the debut of Mexican-Style Street Corn Cheesy Bites. This latest innovation reflects the brand’s commitment to providing delicious, veggie-forward options that align with evolving consumer preferences for bold flavors and convenience.
The bites are crafted with a crunchy corn tortilla chip coating and a creamy blend of corn, mozzarella, and green chilies, offering a savory and satisfying snacking experience. The bites are quick and versatile, ready to prepare straight from the freezer using an air fryer, stovetop, or oven.
Starting this month, the new bites will be available at more than 100 Costco locations across the Midwest, including states such as Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Priced at $12.99 for a 60-count box, they deliver an enticing combination of quality, value, and convenience for families and snack enthusiasts.
“Snacking has become a cornerstone of how people eat, and we’re thrilled to expand our offerings with the launch of Mexican-Style Street Corn Cheesy Bites,” said Andy Reichgut, CEO of Dr. Praeger’s. “With the success of our Littles line, we’ve seen firsthand how much consumers love bold, veggie-forward snacks. These bites continue that, delivering craveable flavors and simple preparation while staying true to our mission of making veggies delicious and easy to eat.”
The launch underscores Dr. Praeger’s long standing dedication to developing plant-based, vegetable-driven foods that prioritize both flavor and nutrition. As the snack category continues to evolve, Mexican-Style Street Corn Cheesy Bites highlight the brand’s ability to innovate and meet the needs of modern consumers.
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