The Influence of Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors on Consumers’ Healthy Cereal Food Choices

ABSTRACT

An increase in the dietary intake of wholegrain cereals can reduce the risk of developing certain non-communicable diseases and can play an important role in a healthy diet. However, consumption of wholegrain cereals across many countries is lower that the recommended guidelines. The main objective of this research was to gather purchase-related information from end users on different types of cereal foods. A mixed research methodology was used to identify key sociodemographic and lifestyle factors that may influence consumer acceptance of new cereal foods. Three distinct clusters were identified based on six identified lifestyle dimensions. This research suggested that the combined use of sociodemographic and lifestyle segmentation variables could help identify specific consumer segments that can be used in the market-oriented development of new cereal foods.

KEYWORDS:

• Lifestyle and sociodemographic factors
• segmentation
• cereals

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially funded through the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) under the Irish Government National Development Plan.