Designing to Attract in an Emerging Market: Applying Behavioural Reasoning Theory to South African Consumer Reactions to an Ultra-High Temperature Milk Product Line Extension

Abstract

In the ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk category, parent brands introduce line extensions as innovative product designs to address the competitiveness in the market. However, not knowing if consumers will purchase the product results in uncertainty for the product design and marketing team. Using the behavioural reasoning theory, the purpose of this study was to explore South African consumers’ reasons for purchasing a UHT line extension that was designed to include the word ‘enriched’ and other extrinsic line extension attributes comprising product packaging design, country of origin and price. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was conducted using six focus groups involving milk consumers from a South African university. Three behavioural approaches (i.e. curiously cautious, unconditional and habitual) emerged, with diff erentiating characteristics of the behaviour towards the UHT line extension. Each extrinsic product attribute was characterised by specifi c behavioural acts that positively or negatively infl uenced the reasons for purchasing the UHT line extension. The behavioural reasoning theory was useful in explaining the linkage between the reasons for or against purchasing a UHT line extension product and the intended behaviour, which contributes to a better understanding of consumers’ approaches to a UHT line extension. Findings can assist food designers and marketers in designing a UHT line extension that resonates with consumers.