ABSTRACT
The package label is an important factor to be evaluated, for constituting the first contact of the product with the consumer, which may exert influence on the purchase intention. Thus, this study identified and evaluated the importance of front label attributes of a new functional beverage made from cashew nut added with mango juice on consumers' purchase intention; it also evaluated the influence of consumers' attitudinal issues regarding functional foods on the importance of these attributes to the attitude of buying the beverage. Focus group methodology was used to assess which front label attributes of the product are important in the choosing process. The combination of attributes and their levels was used to develop 18 labels, which were analyzed by consumers in relation to their buying intention. The results were analyzed by conjoint and cluster analysis. The most relevant qualitative information on the purchase intention process of the cashew nut beverage highlighted by the focus groups were the illustration, the nutritional information (0% lactose and 0% cholesterol), and the term "prebiotic" with its functional claim. According to the conjoint analysis, the illustration was the attribute with more influence on the consumers' purchase intention concerning this product, revealing the consumers' preference for the image of the cashew nut standing alone on the label. Nutritional information and the term prebiotic and its functional claim had a positive impact, but were considered of low importance. Regarding the attitudinal factors involving functional foods there was no significant difference among the three groups of consumers.
