Product Testing of Indonesian Plant-based Snack Foods in Antwerp, Belgium
Alam, Audra (2020)
Alam, Audra
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020121628547
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020121628547
Tiivistelmä
The European market is considered to be one of the attractive yet challenging markets for Indonesian products, due to competition, regulation and cultural differences. The commis-sioning company, Adhyata, is a local Belgian company, based in Antwerp. It, which distrib-utes Indonesian ecological products, private label Indonesian fusion sauce and Indonesian catering service. Adhyata, through its B2C brand MailysKitchen aims to introduce Indone-sian cuisine and products to the Belgian market.
One of the key products is plant-based snack foods in response to the current clean eating trend. Furthermore, COVID-19 presents wider opportunity for snack foods category due to stay-at-home regulation. To answer this opportunity, a product testing was held to under-stand how potential consumers in Antwerp perceive Indonesian plant-based snack foods and which factors influence their decision making towards a purchase. Antwerp was cho-sen as the location of the product testing considering it is the starting market for the com-missioning company.
The study relied on qualitative interviews to gain a deep understanding of potential consum-ers’ unique insight and to explore how potential consumers feel and think about, as well as perceive ecological plant-based snack foods. The interviews were conducted in three phases. First, a product testing was held involving 19 respondents who were randomly se-lected from the company’s employee network as well as retail partners’ networks. Then, in the second phase, two store owners were interviewed to share their insights on plant-based snack foods competition in their stores and how their consumers perceive plant-based snack foods and the ecological product category. Lastly, the marketing manager of the commissioning company was continuously interviewed on a weekly basis to capture the retail intelligence insight from its retail distribution channel.
By understanding the relationship between potential consumers, ecological products and snack foods selections, this research was able to unearth the reason why the relationship was formed and the connection between consumers’ behaviour and perception towards ecological snack foods. Thus, the thesis was able to improve the current product selec-tions, as well as formulate the most effective message to approach the market in Antwerp.
The thesis identified what the potential consumers wish to achieve when they consume plant-based snack foods and described their consumer decision journey. In the end, the study result is essential for the commissioning company to find a solution on how to im-prove its product selection, product package design, size and material to meet the market requirements, as well as its marketing activities and retail marketing to approach potential consumers in Antwerp.
One of the key products is plant-based snack foods in response to the current clean eating trend. Furthermore, COVID-19 presents wider opportunity for snack foods category due to stay-at-home regulation. To answer this opportunity, a product testing was held to under-stand how potential consumers in Antwerp perceive Indonesian plant-based snack foods and which factors influence their decision making towards a purchase. Antwerp was cho-sen as the location of the product testing considering it is the starting market for the com-missioning company.
The study relied on qualitative interviews to gain a deep understanding of potential consum-ers’ unique insight and to explore how potential consumers feel and think about, as well as perceive ecological plant-based snack foods. The interviews were conducted in three phases. First, a product testing was held involving 19 respondents who were randomly se-lected from the company’s employee network as well as retail partners’ networks. Then, in the second phase, two store owners were interviewed to share their insights on plant-based snack foods competition in their stores and how their consumers perceive plant-based snack foods and the ecological product category. Lastly, the marketing manager of the commissioning company was continuously interviewed on a weekly basis to capture the retail intelligence insight from its retail distribution channel.
By understanding the relationship between potential consumers, ecological products and snack foods selections, this research was able to unearth the reason why the relationship was formed and the connection between consumers’ behaviour and perception towards ecological snack foods. Thus, the thesis was able to improve the current product selec-tions, as well as formulate the most effective message to approach the market in Antwerp.
The thesis identified what the potential consumers wish to achieve when they consume plant-based snack foods and described their consumer decision journey. In the end, the study result is essential for the commissioning company to find a solution on how to im-prove its product selection, product package design, size and material to meet the market requirements, as well as its marketing activities and retail marketing to approach potential consumers in Antwerp.