Consumers attitudes to Dietary supplements and Functional food - Case study of the Czech Republic

Bc. Petra Kostková

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

General objective of the thesis was to determine consumer attitudes to dietary supplements and functional foods among Czech citizens, mainly to find out which dietary supplements and functional foods were used in the Czech Republic and to identify reasons for their use. This study also determined consumer preferences in the purchase and identified the typical user of dietary supplements and functional foods products in the Czech Republic. Information about usage of dietary supplements (DS) and functional food (FF), interest in composition of these products and consumer behaviour were examined according to sociodemographic data to analyse the dependencies. Differences in habits between gender and age group were examined too.As a tool to attain the results was used questionnaire survey, which was distributed in person through the whole country and via online. The respondents were chosen both randomly and non-randomly.It was found a high prevalence of dietary supplements and functional foods in the Czech Republic. The most popular were fibre and unsaturated fatty acids, which were used on regular basis. The main reported reason for using DS and FF was to enhance immune system and defensive capacity and to support body´s resistance against fatigue and stress. Women used dietary supplements and functional foods more than men. In general, Czech citizens were interested in composition of dietary supplements and functional foods products and preferred natural products. More frequent than other places of purchase were pharmacy and specialized shops and the majority of respondents spent less than 250 CZK per month. The main source of information about these products was the Internet. Major determining factor in the purchase was the product´s composition and price.

Keywords

dietary supplements, functional food, consumer behaviour, Czech Republic

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 22. 4. 2016

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: Ing. Petra Chaloupková, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Anna Kochanova, externi

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program / obor:
Tropické zemědělství / International Development and Agricultural Economics