LONDON, Aug 22 — Not only do more female consumers in China eat out at fast food restaurants than men, they also seem to be more adventurous eaters, according to a market research report released this week.

The adventure girl. — AFP picIt’s a gender divide that reveals differing consumer patterns in men and women, says the Mintel report. For Chinese females, dining out is treated as a social occasion, shared with friends, kids, colleagues and family members, points out the report.

That may be why 71 per cent of women said they ate out at foreign fast food restaurants, compared with 66 per cent of men.

Throw in a coupon, promotion or meal voucher, and Chinese females are more likely to patronise the restaurant given that they’re “always on the lookout” for a good deal, analysts say.

This is especially true of women in their 20s and 30s, also known as the “coupon generation” who are particularly savvy when it comes to clipping e-coupons from group buying sites and downloading discounts onto mobile devices.

On the other hand, analysts also found that women in China were more likely to pack their own meals from home: 30 per cent of females brown-bag it compared with 19 per cent of men.

While overall, three-quarters of Chinese consumers indicated the willingness to try new fast food products, that number was higher for women — 79 per cent — compared with men, 72 per cent. — AFP/Relaxnews