Consumer Perceptions of Nonnutritive Sweetened Coffee in the Quick Service Restaurant Industry

Abstract

This study aims to explore consumer perceptions of sugar-free specialty coffee in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) segment. Sugar-free specialty coffee products are made using nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS). Participants from a nationwide panel were surveyed about purchase intent of two categories of specialty coffee: syrup-sweetened with sugar or NNS in four popular flavors. Consumer demographics were used in a multistep multiple regression. The study found that, overall, females and younger consumers are most likely to purchase specialty coffee beverages. Additionally, an interaction revealed that younger consumers are most likely to purchase sugar-sweetened coffee beverages, whereas little variation in purchase intent was found between NNS and sugar-sweetened coffee beverages in older consumers.

KEYWORDS:

• coffee
• restaurants
• nonnutritive sweeteners
• sugar-free sweeteners
• purchase intent