February 13/Chicago/PRNewswire -- While the Hispanic population is growing at a fast pace in the U.S. -- and with them their purchasing power -- it seems in the last few years much of the focus has been on Latinas, neglecting an equally important Hispanic shopper...Hispanic men. Indeed, according to latest research from Mintel, some 42% of Hispanic men and more than half (55%) of Hispanic dads are the top decision maker on the purchases made in their household.

Moreover, influence in the household also varies with age. Around half (54%) of Hispanic men aged 45-64 have the most influence on their household purchasing decisions, as do half (50%) of Hispanic men aged 35-44, versus 44% of those aged 25-34.

Leylha Ahuile, senior multicultural analyst at Mintel, said, "Everywhere we look, marketers are directing their focus on Latinas, but brands are forgetting to talk to Hispanic men. Ignoring Hispanic men is an unwise mistake as this growing group, like most men in the U.S., has taken on a greater role with household chores, caring for children and shopping for the household. Marketing efforts that discuss how Hispanic men, and Hispanic dads in particular, can obtain top value in their household purchases could set a grocery retailer apart from its competitors, leading to greater loyalty among Hispanic men who are buying food for the household. By failing to reach out to Hispanic men, brands and retailers will miss out on the chance to establish themselves as the first choice among a segment of shoppers poised to gain great influence in the coming years."

When it comes to where to shop, three in four (75%) Hispanic men shop for food items at a traditional grocery store, making it the leading destination among Hispanic men for food shopping for their household. However, Hispanic fathers are more likely to purchase groceries at mass merchandisers, with 71% of them doing so, compared to 63% of Hispanic men without children.

Despite their active role in the household, when it comes to their portrayal in the media, two-thirds (66%) of Hispanic men believe they are stereotyped by advertisers - meanwhile half (50%) of Hispanic men think that Hispanic women are positively reflected in the media.

"Hispanic men feel like they are misrepresented in the media. This means that marketers may be missing the mark with their advertising initiatives in both Spanish- and English-language media. By having greater sensitivity to Hispanic culture, stereotypes could be omitted from ads and a higher level of engagement could be reached," Ahuile explains.

As for key purchasing factors, Latinos like to play it safe. Some 44% of Hispanic men bought a new product after first sampling it in a store, while 42% made a purchase after a friend or family recommended the product. Moreover, around a third (32%) of Hispanic men are more likely to be influenced by ads on Spanish-language TV than ads on English-language TV.

In certain categories, Hispanic men are more brand loyal than Latinas and are often willing to pay a bit more for their preferred brand. Some 35% of Hispanic men think more expensive brands of laundry detergents are more effective than bargain brands -- versus 31% of Hispanic women -- and some 58% of them only shop at their favorite stores, as they are confident they will find the brands of merchandise they like there.

However, among other ethnic groups, Hispanic men are the least likely to take over grocery duties. Indeed, 69% of Hispanic men purchased food products in the last 12 months, compared to 83% of their White counterparts, 81% of Asian and 71% of their Black counterparts.

The likelihood of Hispanic men buying certain products is also somewhat dependent on household income. Mintel's research shows that 78% of Hispanic men in homes with higher income ($100K+) have purchased clothing or food products in the last year, compared to 67% of those on a lower income (less than $25K).

Source: Prepared Foods, a BNP Media publication