East Europeans taste consumer concepts

Liutenitsa, a traditional Bulgarian tomato spread, could soon be on the menu in England as researchers at Bournemouth University introduce East European academics and business people to the concepts of consumer choice and testing.

Until recently, food producers in former communist countries largely ignored consumer needs and tastes, said Jonathan Edwards of Bournemouth's school of service industries. "This is a joint research project with partners in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria," Dr Edwards said. "We are introducing our partners to western methods and concepts of consumer testing to help them find out about their market and the role of the market in influencing food production."

For the project, consumers in Dorset, in Germany and in Eastern Europe will taste a selection of East European produce including pickled mushrooms and Liutenitsa.