Selection attributes of non-timber forest products and consumer attitudes among food-related lifestyle segmentation

This study aimed to provide basic data for developing forest products and marketing strategies by classifying consumers according to their food-related lifestyle and examining the consumers’ attitudes toward processed forest products. In total, 1,066 Korean consumer panels responded to an online survey, and a questionnaire consisted of FRL, selection attributes, and attitudes for forest products. Four factors were extracted for food-related lifestyle dimensions: gourmet factor, healthy factor, safety factor, and economy factor. Consumer groups were divided according to FRL: economic considering group, variety considering group, food lifestyle low-considering group, and personal-satisfaction considering group. The economic considering group tended to be in their 40s and focused on quality/economic factors. The variety considering group was mainly in their 50s∼60s and was characterized by being married and highly educated. They showed high scores in all factors of product selection attributes. The food lifestyle low-considering groups showed low consideration in all factors of product selection. The personal-satisfaction considering groups, who were likely to be in their 20s to 30s and unmarried, tended to consider marketing factors and quality/economic factors. An analysis of the attitudes toward processed forest products revealed the variety-considering group to be the most positive for processed foods.