BY MARTIN HAMILTON FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, MASH DIRECT
No matter the industry your business is in, taking note of consumer behaviour and pre-empting demand is invaluable in ensuring your business remains current and successful. As the priorities and palates of consumers evolve, businesses must ensure they keep ahead of the curve and develop alongside these trends, meeting ever-growing demand.
Consumer needs vary depending on region, age group, demographic and spending habits; however, you must also bear in mind the differences from country to country. As an international brand, we know all too well the fluctuations of ever-changing consumer behaviour and how, as a business, you need to keep on top of these in order to achieve success, both at home and further afield.
Capitalise on market growth
The UK food and drink industry is developing at a phenomenal rate – a rate that is continually driven by consumer trends and behaviour. Businesses need to capitalise upon this growth. At Mash Direct, we’ve noticed a growing tendency of people wanting spicier flavours, something that we believe has, in part, developed through increased international travel. In response to this demand, we evolved the recipe for our Baby Bakes, our baby potatoes sprinkled with a crunchy crumb, enhancing them with spice as a result of consumers wanting hotter flavours. It has proved popular in both our home market as well as Dubai, and shows how jumping on the back of changing consumer tastes has been extremely fruitful for us, and can be for your business too.
It’s definitely worth considering and we hope the following will help you to better understand your target market.
Traditional versus evolving
Research shows that consumer purchases can be divided into two categories: traditional, including convenience and taste attributes; and evolving, which include health and social responsibility characteristics. The importance of the heritage and provenance of products is rising and as a result, businesses are adapting their marketing strategy to tap into these opportunities. As people become more concerned with the produce they are buying, it leaves businesses in an even more competitive position.
Social media
For us, keeping up to date with the latest tastes and trends is key. Social media plays a growing part in this as it’s a great way to see what people are engaging with, what the latest trends are and who’s driving this change. This contributes and influences the direction our business takes and the products we create.
Exhibitions
While food and drink trends are a common topic of everyday conversation, other sectors must also take a prominent interest in the direction their sector is taking. Trade exhibitions and consumer research are good places to begin, whether at home or abroad. After all, in order for a business to succeed, your main priority is appealing to your target market, therefore you need to get to know them personally.
The need to know your audience, and evolve with them, will ensure your business remains at the forefront. Enhancing growth through stronger customer engagement will all help you move in the right direction to maintain success, while solidifying customer confidence.
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