This study analyzed consumer needs for the development of elderly-friendly HMR products in China. In developing the products, items needed to be improved, types and packages of the necessary products, additional improvements and food preferences were investigated. According to the demographic characteristics of elderly Chinese consumers, these was analyzed as well. A survey was conducted on a total of 370 elderly people, and data analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0 program. Items related to product quality safety, such as “marks of origin by ingredient”, “rich nutrients”, “expansion of letter size of packaging”, “rich nutrients” and “clear manufacturing date and expiration date”, were required to develop HMR products. The types of products that should be developed were porridge and noodles, and the packaging types that should be developed were eco-friendly packaging and recycled packaging. In addition, “low-calorie HMR”, “development of various seasonings”, “use of eco-friendly food ingredients” and “HMR to digest easily” should be improved. The demand for product improvement and food preference showed significant differences according to the degree of education, monthly income and oral health. The results were intended to prepare basic data for setting the direction when developing elderlyfriendly HMR.

This study surveyed Chinese elderly consumers to determine their purchasing behavior, importance, and satisfaction with HMR products in China. Three hundred and seventy people were surveyed: 184 males and 186 females aged 55 to 70 years. Two hundred and sixty-seven (72.25%) of the surveyed consumers had an average monthly income of 6,000 yuan or less, and 313 (84.9%) responded that they spend 3000 yuan or less on groceries per month. Three hundred and fortyeight (94.1%) showed a high interest in health management. Regarding the frequency of purchasing HMR products, most responded that they purchased HMR products more than once or twice a week, with a single purchase of 100 yuan or less for each purchase. The respondents preferred 2 or 3 serving packagings in a refrigerated form. For all forms of products, those made as in-house meals, outdoor meals, as a snack or night snack, for serving guests, for trips, camping, and on-thego products, the participants mostly responded that they frequently purchased the product. When purchasing HMR products, the importance of hygiene, convenience in purchase accessibility, the freshness of ingredients, and an indication of the nutritional content were considered as a high rank. After purchase, the satisfaction of SNS and mobile application advertisements and promotions, amount per serving, take out convenience, and new menu were considered low-rank. The IPA results showed that marking the origin of the ingredients and new menu are areas needing improvement. The study results may be used as base data for developing elderly friendly HMR products and establishing its marketing strategies.

As Korea has approached the aging society, older Koreans have become an important force in restaurant sales today. To succeed with this silver market, it is important for restaurant managers to know who they are and what factors influence older Koreans' eating-out decision making process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the silver consumers' education level on eating-out decision making process. Data were collected from 178 older consumers above 55 years old and analyzed using the descriptive statistic analysis, MANOVA, and one-way ANOVA. The results showed that the elderly consumers' education level significantly influenced the decision making process in determining where to eat out. Significant differences were found in the Problem Recognition Step(Wilks' Lambda=0.817, F=2.991), Information Search Step(Wilks' Lambda=0828, F=2.218), Alternative Evaluation Step II(Wilks' Lambda=0.741, F=3.596), Purchase Decision Step(Wilks' Lambda=0.859, F=2.223), and the Post-Purchase Behavior(Wilks' Lambda=0.885, F=1.780). The higher education level was, the more directly involved in the eating out decision process. The elderly consumers with university education were likely to 'propose to eat out by themselves'(F=9.346), to obtain restaurant information from the 'printed materials'(F=7.452), to go to 'family restaurant'(F=9.057), 'Japanese restaurant'(F=8.7891) and 'fine dining restaurants'(F=3.936), and to directly express their emotion when they had complaints about restaurant service(F=3.206). In conclusion, older Koreans will become more healthy and wealthy which means the dining out activity will be an important part of their life to socialize with people. Therefore, food service operations should consider the elderly consumers' needs and expectation of restaurant services and actively position themselves for this new market segment.

본 연구는 광고유형에 따른 노인과 청년 모델에 대한 노인과 청년소비자의 태도를 비교 연구하였다. 본 연구 결과를 통해 광고유형과 광고모델의 유형에 따라 노인소비자와 청년소비자가 광고태도에서 유사성과 차이점이 실증적으로 입증되었다. 연구결과 노인소비자는 제품광고에 청년 모델이 등장하는 광고보다 노인 모델이 등장하는 광고를 더 선호하는 결과를 나타냈다. 청년소비자는 제품광고에 청년 모델이 등장하는 광고를 노인 모델이 등장하는 광고보다 더 선호할 것으로 예상했는데 역시 더 선호하는 결과를 나타냈다. 노인소비자는 공익광고에 청년 모델이 등장하는 광고보다 노인 모델이 등장하는 광고를 더 선호하는 결과를 나타냈다. 청년소비자는 공익광고에 청년 모델이 등장하는 광고를 노인 모델이 등장하는 광고보다 더 선호할 것으로 예상했는데 역시 더 선호하는 결과를 나타냈다. 한국사회가 급속도로 고령화사회가 되어가면서 국내 노인 인구가 점점 늘어나고 노인을 대상으로 한 정부나 기업, 공공단체들의 마케팅 활동의 중요성이 제기되는 시점에서 노인소비자와 청년소비자를 비교 연구한 것은 큰 의미를 찾을 수 있겠다. 이번 연구결과는 노인소비자와 청년소비자의 차이점을 보여주면서 비교 연구의 중요성을 확인해 주었다.

본 연구는 노인소비자의 매체 이용행태와 노인소비자 문제를 연구했는데 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 연구 결과 노인소비자는 일반적 정보 습득매체와 제품에 대한 정보 습득매체에서 비슷한 결과를 보였으나 일반적 정보 습득 매체에서는 TV의 비중이 높았던 반면 제품정보 습득 매체에서는 지인·가족, 노인관련단체 등이 고르게 높게 나타났다. 일반적인 정보원과 제품에 대한 정보원 모두 비율의 차이는 있었지만 TV, 지인·가족, 라디오, 노인관련단체, 신문, 인터넷, 잡지 순으로 나타났다. 이는 신체 및 정신적인 노화로 인해 외출이 부자유스런 노인소비자의 경우 집에서 TV와 라디오 등 일반적인 매체에 의존하는 의존도가 크다는 것을 보여준다고 하겠다. 또한 외출하는 경우도 지인·가족, 노인관련단체 등 관련되어 있는 개인이나 단체에 대한 의존도가 높은 것을 알 수 있다. 노인소비자의 소비자 문제에 대해 교육수준이 낮은 노인소비자가 교육수준이 높은 노인소비자보다 소비자 문제가 더 많을 것이라고 연구문제를 제기하였는데 분석해 본 결과 교육수준이 낮은 노인소비자가 교육수준이 높은 노인소비자보다 노인소비자 문제가 더 많은 것으로 밝혀졌다. 또한 소득이 불안정한 노인소비자가 소득이 안정한 노인소비자보다 소비자문제가 더 많을 것이라고 연구문제를 제기하였는데 분석해 본 결과 소득이 불안정한 노인소비자가 소득이 안정적인 노인소비자보다 노인소비자 문제가 더 많은 것으로 밝혀졌다.