How we hear about good food
We wanted a better understanding of how Gainesville folks hear and talk about good food. So we asked how word travels. Word of mouth and social media tied as the top source of information, while special events and online reviews came next. Recommendations from friends and family are the most likely to inspire people to try a spot, followed by social media posts from other people.
Where’s the food news?
While Gainesville isn’t short on places to eat, the community lacks a clear source of good food and restaurant news. Like many small cities, the local media offer sporadic food news. A few food influencers share restaurant news and events on their social media accounts but lack a significant audience. Gainesville residents depend on word of mouth and social media to hear about local food news and happenings. Only 6% of survey takers brush up on their food news from traditional media sources like newspapers, television, radio, and billboards.
How do you hear about local restaurant news?
Social media is a major source of food news in Gainesville. Almost 60% of Boomers who get food news on social media rely on Facebook, while Instagram is more popular with Millennials and Gen Zers. TikTok is also making an impression on the younger generation, with 11% of Gen Z survey takers indicating they learn about local food and beverage information on the platform.