A man holding multiple NotMilk products

© NotCo

Studies & Numbers

Word-of-Mouth is Key Channel in Success of Plant-Based Milks, Finds Study

Research on US consumer preferences for plant-based milk, conducted by New Zealand’s Lincoln University, has found that plant-based milk enthusiasts actively promote these alternatives through word-of-mouth, making them valuable allies in marketing. The study — focused on US consumers, due to the country’s extensive plant-based milk market — was conducted by Dr. Meike Rombach, Dr. Lei Cong, and Associate Professor David Dean and published in Beverages, to provide a framework for marketers to promote plant-based milk more effectively. Through a survey, the researchers measured how factors such as animal welfare, environmental concerns, health consciousness, and personal dietary preferences influenced consumers’ willingness to try plant-based milk and their propensity to share their views through word-of-mouth, particularly on social media. “Willingness to try is a low-commitment response …

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Close up of woman biting into Planted chicken

© Planted

Studies & Numbers

EU Survey Reveals Color, Shape, & Texture of Plant-Based Fermented Foods are Paramount for Consumers

The first wave of consumer surveys from the EU-funded HealthFerm project has pinpointed the sensory preferences of consumers for fermented plant-based alternatives such as yogurt, drinkable yogurt, chicken, and protein-enriched bread. The survey, which reached 7,800 EU consumers in eight EU Countries and Switzerland, delves into European consumer preferences and attitudes towards plant-based fermented foods. It provides food innovators with guidance for developing plant-based fermented alternatives that align with consumers’ expectations. Creamy, sweet, and uniform. Consumers favor plant-based fermented yogurt and drinkable yogurt that is white, creamy, sweet, and uniform. The survey shows a clear preference for these products to mimic the characteristics of dairy-based yogurts, highlighting the importance of familiar textures and flavors. For both fermented plant-based drinkable yogurt and regular yogurt, “liquid,” “white …

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Woman shopper in Spanish supermarket

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Market & Trends

How Are Consumer Dietary Preferences Changing Throughout Europe?

If you work in the food and beverage industry, tracking consumer preferences is an important part of your work. What do consumers want from their diet? How are their food preferences and motivations evolving? Do you need to adapt your business and/or products, and if so, how? The answers to these questions are vital in order to optimise sales, and need to be monitored as consumer preferences shift. In its latest New Food Hub article, ProVeg International shares key insights from its recent Smart Protein Consumer Survey, Evolving Appetites. The pan-European survey explores how consumer behaviour has changed over the last three years, building on their 2021 survey report, What Consumers Want. The primary objective of this follow-up study was to track and analyse whether …

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