Health conscious consumer and functional foods — Exploration of factors affecting consumer behaviour in Hungary via focus group discussions

Szakály, Z. and Szente, V. and Polereczki, Zs. and Szigeti, O. (2011) Health conscious consumer and functional foods — Exploration of factors affecting consumer behaviour in Hungary via focus group discussions. Acta Alimentaria, 40 (3). pp. 335-344. ISSN 0139-3006

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Abstract

The research aims to examine the health conscious consumer behaviour on the market of functional foods. In the survey two focus groups with 8 participants from two Hungarian cities were involved. People, whose health behaviour has changed positively in the past few years, were chosen to take part in the focus groups. The respondents connected the concept of health consciousness to the conscious way of life, nutrition and active physical exercises as well. Most of them are interested in the possibilities of healthy nutrition, they consider themselves capable of controlling their state of health, but only few of them take particular steps. The difference is caused by the lack of time and financial background, but the low level of motivations also plays a significant role. The consumers accept the presence of functional foods, which is interpreted as a long run innovation trend. They have limited information about functional ingredients; they do not know nutritional benefits and most of them are mistrustful of this product category. The organisations that are mainly responsible for information are not authentic for the consumers, but the authentic ones do not reach their stimulus threshold. Beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms do not exert enough influence on the consumers and perceived behavioural control does not reach that critical level at which these factors can motivate them to take particular steps.

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