Dataset Information

An investigation of consumers' use of 'dessert-only' food retail outlets: a mixed-methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To understand how consumers use 'dessert-only' retail food outlets which represent one of the UK's top ten growing retail business categories and a high-street source of energy-dense, low nutrient foods.

Design

Responses to open-ended questions about dessert-only restaurant usage and closed-ended questions about demographic information including frequency of use and BMI were collected.

Setting

Online questionnaire launched from the UK.

Participants

Totally, 203 participants (female = 153; mean age = 33·5 years (sd = 14·2); mean BMI = 25·05 kg/m2 (sd = 5·29)) assisted with the study.

Results

Quantitative results showed that participants used dessert-only restaurants infrequently, and qualitative results showed that they regarded a visit as a treat. Many participants also described ways that they modified their eating pattern to accommodate a visit. Thematic analysis also showed that consumer visits were influenced by properties of the foods on offer, opportunities for socialisation (especially with children) as well as convenience, price and a perceived relaxation of meal-time 'rules'.

Conclusions

Despite some media opinion, this type of food retail outlet is being used somewhat judiciously by consumers. A fruitful public health focus may be on the management of treats within the broader context of the diet as opposed to targeting the treat itself, this may be especially helpful for parents/caregivers taking their children out for a treat to a dessert-only restaurant.

SUBMITTER: Randall T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10195495 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

An investigation of consumers' use of 'dessert-only' food retail outlets: a mixed-methods study.

Randall Tennessee T Wright Poppy J PJ Wilkinson Laura L LL

Public health nutrition 20200907 9

<h4>Objective</h4>To understand how consumers use 'dessert-only' retail food outlets which represent one of the UK's top ten growing retail business categories and a high-street source of energy-dense, low nutrient foods.<h4>Design</h4>Responses to open-ended questions about dessert-only restaurant usage and closed-ended questions about demographic information including frequency of use and BMI were collected.<h4>Setting</h4>Online questionnaire launched from the UK.<h4>Participants</h4>Totally, ...[more]

PMID: 32892786

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Project description:BackgroundNutrition apps seem to be promising tools for supporting consumers toward healthier eating habits. There is a wide variety of nutrition apps available; however, users often discontinue app use at an early stage before a permanent change in dietary behavior can be achieved.ObjectiveThe main objective of this study was to identify, from both a user and nonuser perspective, which functionalities should be included in nutrition apps to increase intentions to start and maintain use of these apps. A secondary objective was to gain insight into reasons to quit using nutrition apps at an early stage.MethodsThis study used a mixed methods approach and included a qualitative and a quantitative study. The qualitative study (n=40) consisted of a home-use test with 6 commercially available nutrition apps, followed by 6 focus group discussions (FGDs) to investigate user experiences. The quantitative study was a large-scale survey (n=1420), which was performed in a representative sample of the Dutch population to quantify the FGDs' results. In the survey, several app functionalities were rated on 7-point Likert scales ranging from 1 (very unimportant) to 7 (very important).ResultsA total of 3 different phases of app use, subdivided into 10 user-centric app aspects and 46 associated app functionalities, were identified as relevant nutrition app elements in the FGDs. Relevance was confirmed in the survey, as all user-centric aspects and almost all app functionalities were rated as important to include in a nutrition app. In the starting phase, a clear introduction (mean 5.45, SD 1.32), purpose (mean 5.40, SD 1.40), and flexible food tracking options (mean 5.33, SD 1.45) were the most important functionalities. In the use phase, a complete and reliable food product database (mean 5.58, SD 1.41), easy navigation (mean 5.56, SD 1.36), and limited advertisements (mean 5.53, SD 1.51) were the most important functionalities. In the end phase, the possibility of setting realistic goals (mean 5.23, SD 1.44), new personal goals (mean 5.13, SD 1.45), and continuously offering new information (mean 4.88, SD 1.44) were the most important functionalities. No large differences between users, former users, and nonusers were found. The main reason for quitting a nutrition app in the survey was the high time investment (14/38, 37%). This was also identified as a barrier in the FGDs.ConclusionsNutrition apps should be supportive in all 3 phases of use (start, use, and end) to increase consumers' intentions to start and maintain the use of these apps and achieve a change in dietary behavior. Each phase includes several key app functionalities that require specific attention from app developers. High time investment is an important reason to quit nutrition app use at an early stage.

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Dataset Information

An investigation of consumers' use of 'dessert-only' food retail outlets: a mixed-methods study.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Results

Conclusions

Publications

An investigation of consumers' use of 'dessert-only' food retail outlets: a mixed-methods study.

Similar Datasets

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