Consumer insight on a snack machine producing healthy and customized foods at point of consumption
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 16 August 2019
Issue publication date: 4 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate a healthy snacking and on-the-go eating concept, “Healthy Snack Machine” (HSM) that produces freshly made food and enables customization of the product at site of purchase and consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applied qualitative and quantitative consumer research methods and used iterative co-creation approach, meaning that the HSM concept was developed by consumer input during different phases. Specifically, the research included three qualitative methods, web platform discussion (n=109), a HSM mock-up study (n=30) and testing a prototype of the HSM user interface (n=50), as well as a quantitative study (n=215).
Findings
Generally, the consumers evaluated the HMS concept positively. The results indicated that the time of the day, personal goals and preferences affected food choice and product customization in HSM. Consumers preferred HSM products that were healthy, satiating and suitable for on-the-go eating. They also felt that HSM would save time, and that the possibility to customize the food gives them additional value. The results also pointed out the importance of privacy and security issues in the HSM concept.
Practical implications
The results indicated that consumers are in favor of a new delivery concept that can help them to consume healthy food and enable customization of the product. This encourages to proof the findings in consumer tests with a real food-producing prototype machine.
Originality/value
The work gives original insight on consumer preferences for healthy snacking and snack customization enabled by digital technologies and consecutive co-creation methodologies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was implemented as a part of Vital Selfie project (2015–2017) together with companies from Finnish food industry. The project was funded by Business Finland (former Tekes), the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation. In addition, we want to thank our colleagues, Tapio Leppänen and Janne Laine for implementing the consumer studies with us in Phases 2 and 4.
Citation
Vehmas, K., Lavrusheva, O., Seisto, A., Poutanen, K. and Nordlund, E. (2019), "Consumer insight on a snack machine producing healthy and customized foods at point of consumption", British Food Journal, Vol. 121 No. 10, pp. 2551-2563. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2019-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited