Consumer Behaviour Analysis of Spices (Curry Powders) in Kottaym District of Kerala State
Consumer Behaviour Analysis of Spices (Curry Powders) in Kottaym District of Kerala State
Consumer Behaviour Analysis of Spices (Curry Powders) in Kottaym District of Kerala State
state of India is an important producer of spices includ- lion's share of the spices production in Kerala is from
ing seed spices such as fenugreek, cumin and coriander Idukki and Wayanad districts. As regards cardamom,
among others. The Rajasthani chilly varieties, especially Idukki district has almost monopoly while in the case
from the State's Jodhpur regions are popular not only in of pepper there are Wayanad and Kannur districts
the country but also appeal to the taste buds of the Indian contributing a sizeable share. Idukki district has domi-
Diaspora abroad. The special quality and special flavour nation both in the area of pepper cultivation and the
of Rajasthani spices are usually accredited to the favour- quantity of production, followed by Wayanad and
able climatic conditions and natural methods being used Kannur districts.
here for ages. Rajasthan has the distinction of producing
17 of the total 60 varieties of Indian spices.
Objectives of the study:
India produces 2.5 million tons to 3 million tons of a) To conduct a market research for instant curry powders
spices annually. India produces spices of different cate- in Kottayam district.
gories worth around US$ 3 billion. In terms of volume b) To compare the attitude of customers with competitors
and value, India accounted for 48 percent and 23 percent products.
in value of global spice trade. (Source: Spices Board c) To compare the brand preference of the customers to-
India) India accounts for 25-30 percent of world’s pep- wards different brands of instant curry powders.
per production, 35 percent of ginger and about 90 per d) To understand the customers’ buying habits and factors
cent of turmeric production. influencing the buying.
e) To understand the market concentration level.
Among the Indian Federal states, Kerala tops in pepper
(96 percent), Cardamom (53 percent), Ginger (25 per Scope Of The Study
cent) production in the country. Andhra Pradesh leads in Market is more competitive nowadays. Customers look out
Chilly and Turmeric production in the country with 49 for products that are more advanced in technology and qual-
percent and 57 percent. In coriander, cumin and fenu- ity. The study enables to know the market conditions and
greek production in the country, Rajasthan emerges as buying habits of customers to instant curry powders. This
the largest producer with 63 percent, 56 percent and 87 also helps to know about the customer choices and can
percent. The world spice trade is estimated at US$ 7.5-8 market products accordingly. Certain new suggestions and
billion in terms of value and 500,000tonnes in terms of strategies are adopted for the marketing of a newly branded
quantity. product.
There are many countries producing these spices but Research Methodology
the 'little Kerala' is considered as the only source of The study is based on both primary and secondary data.
top quality pepper and cardamom, which are the Response of the customers who are coming to shops for
most important spices aptly, called the 'Royal Couples' purchasing masaalas, spices etc are taken as the primary
of spices. Kerala contributes the lion's share of total
data. Simple statistical tools like percentage analysis & chi-
spices production of India. 2,69,178 hectares of land in square test are used for the analysis. The sources of secon-
Kerala is used for spices cultivation producing more dary data are company website and referring textbooks,
than 1,60,000 tonnes of spices annually. Pepper alone magazines of the company, booklet and annual report, and
is cultivated in 1,85,000 hectares, producing on an aver- profile of the company. The data is collected from the cus-
age more than 50,000 tonnes of black pepper. It has tomers/house holders/shop keepers etc of the Kottayam
been estimated that more than 90 percent of Indian district of Kerala state.
pepper is produced in Kerala '' Similarly, about 40.000
hectares of land in Kerala is under cardamom cultiva-
tion. Producing more than 5,000 tonnes of cardamom Hypotheses:
annually. This is about 60 percent of the total carda- 1) There is no significances on consumer buying behav-
mom cultivation in India. More than 70 percent of the iour on age of the customers.
cardamom produced in India is the contribution of 2) There is no significances on consumer buying behav-
Kerala. Along with pepper and cardamom Kerala has iour on income of the family.
remarkable contributions of ginger, Clove, turmeric, 3) There is no significance on locality of the consumer on
nutmeg etc. From the above statistics it is clear that purchasing of the curry powders.
the name 'spices land of India' is suitable to the state 4) There is no significances on brand name of the spices
of Kerala. It is equally important that a large number on consumer purchasing behaviour.
of families in Kerala resort to the spices sector for
their livelihood. Another notable factor is that the
Analysis :
Majority of the customers coming to the shops for purchasing is in the age group of 31-40 yrs(48%),followed by 41-50
yrs(20%) &21-30 yrs(17%).
2 Gender/sex of customer:
Majority of the respondents are female .This means that ladies are coming to the front to purchase their day to day house
hold items from the shop.
The survey shows that majority of the respondents coming to shops are degree and higher degrees holders.This shows that
customers who comes to the shop qualified and having capability to know which one is good and which one is bad.
Majority (50%) of the respondents are salaried class followed by house wives(30%)
No of respon- 8 65 5 10 12 100
dents
Majority of the respondents are (78%) are from the village areas .
10 Frequency of purchase:
11 Quantity of purchase:
Quantity 100 gms pkt 200 gms pkt 250 gms pkt 500 gms pkt I Kg pkt total
No of respon- 92 2 8 nil nil 100
dents
Prompting fea- Low price affordability quality All the above total
tures
No of respon- 3 5 90 3 100
dents
90% of the respondents purchasing the items based on quality of the product.
Majority of the respondents choosing the items due to the band awareness of the items.
Majority of the respondents opted that Eastern and Nirapara brand have more brand image than any other brand
Majority of the respondents have the opinion that eastern and Nirapara spices items are cost beneficial brand followed by
sabari and double horse .
Majority of the respondents have the opinion that in brand availability Nirapara comes first followed by eastern .
Regarding quality of the product & standard of the company majority are preferring Sabari followed by nirapara,saras and
eastern.
No of re- 33 31 26 10 100
spondent
Majority of the respondent have the opinion that promotion is doing by eastern more ,followed by nirapara, saras and
koula.
h)Opinion about attraction in packing:
Majority have the opinion that attractive packaging is for eastern first ,followed by nirapara,Double horse,saras and sabari.
Findings Bibliography
a) Majority of the customers visiting the shop is in the [1] Md. Abbas Ali, Venkat Ram Raj Thumiki and
age group og 31-40 years and majority are ladies Naseer Khan, Factors Influencing Purchase of
coming to purchase. FMCG by Rural Consumers in South India: An Em-
b) Majority who comes to shop are married and having pirical Study, International Journal of Busi-
qualification degree. ness Research and Development, Vol. 1, No. 1,
c) majority of the customers are salaried class and hav- page. 48‐57 (2012).
ing 5-6 members in their family.
d) Majority of the customers monthly income is be- [2] Wahida Shahan Tinne, Factors Affecting Impulse
tween Rs 10001 to 20000 and 78% are coming from Buying Behavior of Consumers at Superstores in
village areas. Bangladesh, ASA University Review, Vol. 5 No. 1,
e) Majority of the customers are purchasing curry January–June, page 209-220 (2011).
powder monthly basis and using often and majority
purchasing 100 gms packet., based on quality of the [3] Irshad Ahmad Bhat, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Nafees
product. Ahmad Rather, A Perceptual Study On Consumer
f) Majority of the customers choosing brand due to Buying Behavior In Local Markets, International
brand awareness about the brand ,preferring eastern Journal of Innovative Research & Development,
,followed by Nirapara Vol. 2, Issue 3, page 164-178, March, 2013.
g) Based on taste and freshness ,customers preferring
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curry powder first followed by nirapara wards FMCGs, International Journal of Research in
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first followed by eastern,about quality and standard No. 9 (September 2012).
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and koula.Atraction of the package eastern comes and Madhya Pradesh” International Journal of
first ,followed by nirapara. Research In Commerce & Management, Volume
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[8] M.S. Rathore and N.S. Shekhawat, Incredible Spices [12] Kothari, C.R., Research Methodology-Methods
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89, 2008.
[13] Gupta, S.P., Statistical Methods, New Delhi,
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Koshy, Marketing Management, New Delhi,
[10] Stan Lipovetsky, Shon Magman, Andrea Twelfth Edition, 2006.
Zanetti Polzi, Pricing Models in Market Research,
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[18] www.lieb.com
APPENDIX
PART I
Above 55
Retired/others
7. Are you a regular user of instant curry powders? (Sambar Masala, Chicken Masala, Meat Masala etc.)
PART II
1. PRODUCT FACTOR
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
2. VALUE FACTOR
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
3. PROMOTION FACTOR
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
4. TRUST FACTOR
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
5. LIFESTYLE FACTOR
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
Highly important
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
Highly unimportant
35. According to you, which of the following brands are having high taste and freshness?
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
36. According to you, which of the following brand is having high product /brand image?
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
37. According to you, which of the following brand is highly cost beneficial?
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
38. According to you, which of the following brand is easily available in the retail stores?
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
39. According to you, which of the following brand is easily meeting the quality standards?
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
40. According to you, which of the following brand is having promotional offers/advertisement?
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
42. Please tick the brand of your choice from those given below
Eastern
Nirapara
Saras
Double Horse
Melam
Priyom
Sevana
Promise
Vincos
Others