Consumers Behavior on the Market of Healthy Products in the Era of Digitization

Abstract

An access to Internet that has become friendly and easy for the most people in the world, worked in as a unifying factor of human behavior in many spheres of life. In particular “network generation” also known as (“generation Y” or “Millenium generation”) is characterized by a num-ber of common features that have managed to emerge as clearly. The behavior of consumers has been changing as well as functioning of the modern man. There are new consumer segments in the global virtual space, new consumer trends, including LOHAS trend. The new groups of consumers expect from manufacturers and traders change of existing market strategies and their adaptation to customer requirements and preferences. The article presents also the chosen results of pilot study of Polish consumers behaviors connected with products that are regarded as healthy and assess-ment of the product characteristics relevance to consumers. The survey was conducted among customers doing their shopping and interested in health food in the stores with those articles in the city of Bydgoszcz and Torun. It included such groups of products as: natural fruit juices, products with reduced sugar content, gluten-free, natural cosmetics, substitutes of sugar, naturally dried herbs and spices, organically produced products without preservatives or artificial colors. On the other hand, there has been assessed selected features in these groups of products (a meaning of features for the consumers), including: labeling at the products and providing their ingredients, taste and smell compared to traditional products, the price level in relation to traditional products, the safety of consumption and application confirmed by proper certificates, the range of products offered within the product groups and the appearance and functionality of packaging.