Do Traditional Food Habits Influence the Positioning Strategy of Food Products?

 Introduction: food in general and particular is both a point of contention and agreement when it comes to the best tasting popular foods. We all like to present and vouch for the dishes or famous foods we have tried and found to be very delicious and likeable. In most cases we want others to try them out too and form their personal opinion in terms of taste, popularity, likeability and overall rating. For instance, India is a land of amazing food traits, tastes, aromas and colours. They form a beautiful rainbow of inclusive tastes be it north to south, east to west the variations are astounding and taste mesmerising. So how do food habits influence the positioning strategy of food products?

How and Why Do Food Habits Influence Food Product Strategy

Cultural and traditional attachment

Food is what gives us all a sense of identity and pride. Food’s cultural and traditional influences are undeniable and shape eating and dining habits across continents. In India, whereas some may prefer vegetarian foods, others may still want their non-veg foods with aplomb. That means their tastes or food habits form a crucial part of their personality. And because of that positioning strategy of food products very much weighs in on fact before launching new edible food products in the market.

Condiments, Spices and Taste Enhancers

Most food product related industries have derived target markets or audiences purely based on what people eat and created thriving niche businesses. Similarly, food habits related to these niches have been held for several generations and made sustainable and adapting strategies of their food product launches. That makes people’s long term eating and food habits become primary factors in deciding the position of food products. Again here the condiments and spices that are found and used in one region of India may differ from other areas. These taste, flavour and colour enhancers may be liked more and used more than in other locations. This impacts and influences the introduction of food products on large scale.

Regional or Geographical Food Supply Variations

It is true that certain foods are grown or are easily available and found in abundance in one region or geographical location. Though today with logistical support this hurdle can be overcome to supply the same foods to other areas. However, these regional variations in particular food availability and supply tend to shape and influence the food products positioning around these areas. In the end, food product positioning or marketing strategy takes into account the abundance or the lack of it of certain foods supply in one location from another.    

Target Audience Frequency of the Food Purchases 

Since the food business deals with fast perishing products (in some cases the food products have to be consumed as fast as possible as their fresh shelf life is short or limited), the food product positioning strategy has to examine the use and purchase patterns of these foods.  You cannot introduce massively cheese where it’s hardly eaten, bough, used or consumed either due to economic variations or perhaps due to lack of interest in the food product. Moreover, cheese has a short shelf life as it needs constant refrigeration. So that dictates locational food products positioning strategy to a large extent.  

Conclusion

Food is always one way to bring people together celebrating the diversity of human food habits, preferences and culinary traits. One may find some foods likeable and tasty whereas to another they aren’t. Famous Foods tend to have an egalitarian essence or influence that binds and attracts people across various geographical divides, languages and cultural traditions to enjoy their enduring tastes. The success of food products is therefore drawn depending on native food habits as well as the best food marketing strategy that speaks and appeals to the target consumer