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Developing new food products is a complex process. Even if a company performs new product development activities successfully, it is still uncertain if consumers will adopt the product. The Bass diffusion model has often been used to study product adoption. However, existing modifications of the Bass diffusion model do not capture the complexity of consumer food choice and they have limitations in situations where there is no sales data. To avoid these challenges, the system dynamics approach can be employed. This paper aimed at extending the existing system dynamics Bass diffusion model to investigate the dynamic adoption process of insect-based food from a consumer research perspective. We performed a structured review of the literature on edible insects to build the model. The model was used to study adoption of the product amongst consumers in the Netherlands. Simulations revealed that diffusion of a radical innovation, such as an insect-based burger, can proceed for many years before there are observable adopters in the total population, under the currently reported practices in the Netherlands. Expanding awareness of this innovation requires many decades, which can be quickened by developing strategies aimed at increasing word-of-mouth. Nevertheless, the low likelihood to adopt such food remains a challenge towards full adoption, even when the sensory quality of products is improved. To fully explore how to improve the diffusion outcome of edible insects, more knowledge on mechanisms related to positive and negative word-of-mouth, and adoption of insect-based burgers by people who initially reject them, is needed. Our study demonstrated that system dynamics models could have potential in designing new food product strategies in companies, as they facilitate decision-making and uncover knowledge gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• All mothers reported health as a consideration in snack providing to their children. • Three types of mothers were defined according to their healthiness perception. • "Product mothers" related healthiness of a snack to the intrinsic product properties. • "Balancing mothers" related healthiness of a snack to the overall diet. • The "not that important mothers" thought healthiness of a snack is not that relevant. Healthiness is an often-reported consideration related to the snack choice of mothers for their children. Mothers' perceived healthiness of a certain snack could be diverse and different compared to the actual nutritional healthiness of that specific snack. Diary studies and in-depth interviews with 22 Dutch mothers were conducted. During the interviews, four different types of cookies were presented and discussed. Data from the diaries and the interviews were transcribed, coded and grouped and presented in tables. All mothers mentioned health as a consideration while providing snacks both in the interviews and in the diaries. For more than two-thirds of the mothers, health was the most important consideration. Three types of mothers were defined according to healthiness perception: "product mothers", who related the healthiness of a snack to the intrinsic product properties, the "balancing mothers" who related the healthiness of the snack to the whole diet and the context, and the "not that important mothers", for whom the healthiness of a snack was not that relevant because the healthy foods were already eaten during the main meals. The results of this study could be used for efficient communication to help mothers meet children's dietary requirements and they could be relevant for the design of new snack products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating the `voice of the consumer'' in early stages of the new product development process has been identified as a critical success factor for new product development. Yet, this step is often ignored or poorly executed. This may be due to lack of familiarity on which methods are available, the use of disciplinary terminology, and difficulty in accessibility of papers on this subject. This paper reviews and categorises 10 of the most common methods in this area, in terms of what their key features are, and what strengths, weaknesses and appropriateness are. We develop a classification scheme based on three performance dimensions with specific criteria: (1) stimuli used as cue for need elicitation, (2) task format, and (3) need actionability. We provide guidelines for the appropriateness of these methods in the new product development process based on the newness strategy of the development process (radical versus incremental innovation) and identify which functional department (marketing versus R&D) the method should primarily support. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Empirical study on consumer data use in product development in European food firms. • Three consumer data types: consumer involvement, food trends, environmental factors. • More than 85% of respondents use all three data types in new product development. • Respondents much rarely use consumer data in the product life-cycle. • Data collection methods do not optimally support development of truly new products. New food products have a high chance of market failure. To improve the chances of new product success, a consumer-oriented approach to product development has been recommended. The approach emphasizes the importance of an optimal fit between consumers' needs and the new product. To achieve this goal, food professionals generate and use various consumer data types and methods. However, very few studies address the extent to which the food industry uses consumer data in product development. This study investigated to what extent European food firms use various consumer data in different phases, i.e., new product development (NPD) and the product life cycle (PLC), and what data collection methods they employ. The current study classified consumer data into three types: consumer involvement, food trend, and environmental factor data. The results showed that more than 85% of the respondents use all three data types in NPD, while they rarely use consumer data in the PLC. Respondents most frequently use data collection methods such as focus groups, consumer surveys, and indirect data collection (e.g., internet, magazines). These methods are less effective in assuring product success and in developing new-to-the-world products. In fact, more than half of the respondents never or rarely worked on new-to-the-world projects. Increasing the use of consumer data in the PLC and adapting data collection methods to the type of the project and the phase of product development present opportunities for food firms to improve chances of new product success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a great deal of research and knowledge, the failure rate of new food products is still high. Developing new food products is complex, since multiple functions, i.e., marketing, technology, and consumer researchers, are involved. How their decisions interrelate and affect product performance over time, i.e., throughout product life-cycle, has been scarcely studied for the food domain. Systematic assessment of product performance factors can lead to improvement, but such approach is yet lacking for new food products. The study aimed at understanding which factors are relevant to assess performance of new food products during its life-cycle. An integrated framework for performance assessment of a new food product was developed by performing a structured literature review and by using systems approach principles to synthesize the review findings. The integrated framework represents the three main functions in food NPD – consumer research, technology and marketing, and consists of 46 variables relevant for managing food performance during its life cycle. Seven reinforcing and four balancing feedback loops were identified, which provide insight in the causal relations between variables. The integrated framework provides understanding of how each of the functions contributes to the food product's overall performance, and how they can anticipate consequences of numerous changes throughout product's life on the overall product's success, e.g., sales. This system representation helps decision-makers to get insight into behaviour of the whole system and to leverage the performance of new food products. • Structured approach for developing an integrated food product performance framework. • Systems approach is applicable for studying a complex dynamic problem such as food success. • Means-criteria diagrams capture the complex nature of new food product performance. • Feedback loops facilitate qualitative representation of behaviour over time. • The integrated framework aims at facilitating improved NPD decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the appropriateness, attractiveness, use-intention and (un)desirable sensory properties of meat substitutes in different dishes based only on visual information. A web-based survey was developed to let consumers assess the use of meat substitutes in different dishes. The survey consisted of 38 key questions with subdivisions and was completed by 251 respondents. Six different dishes (spaghetti, rice, wrap, pizza, pasta salad, and soup) were rated for their appropriateness for the use of meat substitutes. Subsequently, appropriateness, attractiveness, and use-intention were rated based on photographs of the six dishes prepared with meat substitutes that differed in shape and appearance. Respondents also had to indicate (un)desirable sensory properties of meat substitutes for every dish. Spaghetti, rice and wrap were more appropriate for the use of meat substitutes than the other dishes. The most appropriate meat substitute–meal combinations were those that are similar to common Dutch meal combinations (e.g. spaghetti with mince and rice with pieces). Attractiveness and intention scores were in line with the appropriateness scores. Furthermore, we found that current users of meat substitutes and younger respondents gave higher appropriateness ratings. This study demonstrates that appropriateness of meat substitutes in a dish is related to attractiveness and use-intention and that meal context should be taken into account in the development of new meat substitutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New meat substitutes need to be recognized as alternatives to meat. We therefore investigated which category representations consumers have of meat and meat substitutes. Thirty-four non-vegetarian participants performed a free sorting task with 17 meat products and 19 commercially available meat substitutes, followed by similarity and typicality ratings. Results indicated that categorization was largely influenced by the taxonomic classification of meat, so by categories that refer to the animal source like ‘pork’, ‘beef’ etc. Hence, meat substitutes were grouped separately from non-processed meat products. However, there were categories (e.g. ‘pieces’ and ‘sausages’) that contained both meat substitutes and processed meat products, as these products were perceived to be very similar. New meat substitutes should have a certain resemblance to meat in order to replace meat on the plate. This can be achieved by either similarity in appearance or by referring to shared scripts/goals, such as a similar application in meals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Situational appropriateness of meat, meat substitutes and meat alternatives was studied. • Item-by-use appropriateness surveys were conducted in 2004 and 2019. • Meat substitutes were overall less appropriate than meat or meat alternatives. • Meat substitute consumption could predict situational appropriateness in 2019. The development of meat substitutes could contribute to a more sustainable food production system. Although the consumption of meat substitutes in the Netherlands has grown over the last decades, meat consumption stayed roughly the same. This led to the question of whether meat substitutes fit in the same usage situations as meat products do. Perceived situational appropriateness of meat, meat substitutes and other meat alternatives in different usage situations was studied using an item-by-use appropriateness survey. Products were presented via photographs and for each combination of product and situation, the appropriateness was rated on a 7-point scale. Personal information included the consumption of meat and meat substitutes and Food Neophobia. An exploratory survey was conducted in 2004 and an online survey in 2019. Overall, meat products were perceived as more appropriate than their vegetarian equivalents (e.g. hamburger vs. vegetarian hamburger) in almost all situations. Meat alternatives (chickpeas, nuts) scored generally higher than meat substitutes on situational appropriateness. Age and gender affected appropriateness ratings: women and younger respondents gave higher ratings to meat substitutes and meat alternatives. Food Neophobia showed a small effect. Meat substitute consumption frequency was a predictor of overall appropriateness in 2019, where it was not in 2004. Results underpin that situational appropriateness and consumer characteristics should be taken into account in new product development of meat substitutes. Furthermore, meat alternatives like chickpeas and nuts could also contribute to the reduction of meat consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]