by web$aver
August 10, 2026
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- While 37.36% prioritize nutritious, balanced meals, 18.31% specifically look for products on sale or with coupons showing that promotions can influence what parents put in the lunchbox.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables are the most popular lunch food category at 28.65%, but packaged snacks (20.37%), sandwich items (19.16%) and yogurt/dairy (17.91%) also represent substantial opportunities for CPG brands competing for back-to-school purchases.
- Price is a major consideration, with 78.54% saying it is either the most important factor or very important, making competitive pricing and promotions particularly relevant during back-to-school shopping.
- Coupons and cashback offers are positioned for strong back-to-school engagement, with 88.63% of parents saying they are likely or very likely to use them this year.
- Promotions can drive meaningful brand switching, with 79.63% saying they are likely or very likely to switch from a preferred school-lunch brand for a better coupon or cashback offer.
- Online promotions could help brands connect value with healthier choices, as 93.34% say better access to coupons or cashback offers would definitely or possibly make them more likely to buy healthier lunch options.
Back to School Lunches Survey Results:
(Aggregate All Canada Data – Results can also be reported by Location, Age, Gender and Language)
1) When preparing school lunches, which type of food products do you prioritize most for your children? (Please select one)
2) Which categories of food products do you most often buy for school lunches and snacks? (Please select all that apply)
3) How much does price influence your food choices for Back-to-School grocery shopping? (Please select one)
4) How likely are you to use coupons or cashback offers during your Back to School shopping this year? (Please select one)
5) How likely are you to switch from your preferred brand(s) of school lunch products if another offers a better coupon or cashback deal? (Please select one)
6) Would better access to online coupons or cashback offers make you more likely to buy healthier options for school lunches? (Please select one)
To move shoppers from consideration to conversion, CPG Brand Managers must first understand what truly matters to them: their priorities, tastes, and drivers. Without that insight, even a strong promotion may fall flat.
Running short, recurring surveys gives Brand Managers a direct line into their audience’s thinking, revealing what resonates and what doesn’t.
It’s easier for Brand Managers to make better strategic decisions when they have the right information. webSaver Consumer Insights can help you get it.
Contact webSaver Consumer Insights to find out more.
With over 10 years leading the Canadian online coupons marketplace and 150 Million coupon issued we know coupons. We’ve worked with 90% of Canada’s leading consumer packaged goods brands providing them with the online coupons and cashback offer solutions that generate real value for their business. Whether your strategic objective is customer acquisition, customer lift (Increased transaction size and frequency) or customer retention webSaver can help.
