• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to conceptualize the Home Meal Replacement (HMR) in Korea and to gather professionals' opinions of prospect and task for HMR industry in Korea. A total of 67 experts participated in a three round survey by Delphi technique, which was used to integrate and share the each expert's professional idea. According to the result, HMR was translated into 'Gajeongsiksa daeyongsik' in Korean and given definition to 'a meal taken directly or through brief cooking process at home by purchasing ready to eat or ready to end-cook type of food'. As the result of categorizing HMR products of Korean food, 'I. Ready to eat' such as side dishes, kimchi, salad, sandwich, kimbab, and so on and 'II. Ready to heat' such as rice, porridge, retort food (soup, broth, curry, spaghetti, etc.), frozen pizza, grilled food, jabchae, instant soup, and so on were construed in a limited sense of the HMR. In addition, 'III. Ready to end-cook' such as frozen dumpling, frozen pork cutlet, seasoned meat, powder-type soup, and so on as well as these two kinds were interpreted in a broad sense of the HMR. In the prospect of HMR industry in Korea, the Korean HMR industry would develop continuously accompanied by increasing of consumers using HMR products. Introduction and generalization of HMRs would serve the convenience for meal preparation and then influence the change of home meal pattern. Nevertheless, it was concerned about that using HMRs might have limitation on solving the problems of dietary life including irregular meal, skipping a meal, and so on and influence the nutrition imbalance. For the development of HMRs, developing various menu and the packaging materials for HMR products, constructing the thorough sanitary management, and strengthening R & D for the HMR of Korean food were the future tasks in Korean HMR industry.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.12-18
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• 2001

Increasing use of plastics in food packaging materials has led to the issue of food-plastic packaging materials mutual interactions. Rapid development of new microwavable ready-to-meal products requires suitable plastic packaging materials for safe heating with the contained food. However, data is still required to diminish consumers' safety concern about ready to meal packaging materials. Amounts and patterns of extracted materials from the ready-to-meal packaging materials of Korea and Japan by heat treatments ($120^{\circ}C$ for 30 min.) was investigated and compared by using Gas chromatography. Total peak number of extracted materials from Korea packaging materials was six while that of extracted materials from Japan's was only two. Moreover, the extracted amounts of packaging materials from Korea company was much higher than those of Japan's. Additional research is needed to justify the reason why extracted materials from packaging materials from Korea be much more occurred, and how the amounts from Korea packaging materials can be reduced.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.253-263
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyse factors related to Home Meal Replacement (HMR) use among university students and to determine the dietary quality according to its consumption. A survey on the consumption of HMR and Nutrition Quotient (NQ) was conducted from September to November 2021. The study included 232 university students (88 males, 144 females) from Chungcheong. The proportion of consumption at least once a week was 71.55% for ready-to-eat foods, 55.60% for ready-to-cook foods, 40.95% for fresh-cut products, and 21.12% for meal-kits. The preference ratings were as follows: ready-to-eat foods, 3.77 out of 5 points, meal-kits, 3.53 points, fresh-cut products, 3.52 points, and ready-to-cook foods, 3.45 points. In terms of satisfaction, convenience (4.06 out of 5 points), taste (3.71 points), variety (3.67 points), and food hygiene (3.62 points) were rated the highest. The scores in the moderation NQ were significantly lower in the groups that consumed ready-to-eat foods (p=0.0002), ready-to-cook foods (p=0.0002), and meal-kits (p=0.0068) at least once a week compared to the groups that consumed them less than once a week. In conclusion, the results will serve as basic data for nutrition education for proper consumption of HMR among university students.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.25-43
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• 2020

Although ready meals have recently increased their market share in the Korean food industry, a literature review found that the use of ready meals triggers feelings of guilt in homemakers. Such guilt arises as a result of several factors apparently related to consumers' health. Consequently, levels of guilt might be expected to vary depending on consumers' perceived health locus. The present study aims to examine (a) how health locus affects guilty feelings about ready-meal consumption, (b) how the effect varies in relation to the consumption of different types of ready meal, and (c) the relationship between consumers' guilty feelings and willingness to buy ready meals. Three dimensions of health locus of control (HLC) -internal HLC (IHLC), powerful-others HLC (PHLC), and chance HLC (CHLC)- were presumed to influence consumers' feelings of guilt in association with ready meals. Data were collected via an online survey, and participants were randomly assigned to either of two groups: one group was instructed to heat meals in a microwave (ready-to-heat [RTH] group, n=104) and the other cooked using a pan with additional ingredients (ready-to-cook [RTC] group, n=101). The study found that guilty feelings about consuming RTH meals increased in line with increased external HLCs, namely, PHLC and CHLC. For the RTC group, guilt increased in line with increased PHLC. IHLC had no significant effect on guilty feelings in either group. Willingness to buy ready meals decreased for both groups as consumers' feelings of guilt increased. Even RTC meals, which require more time and energy in food preparation, did not reduce guilty feelings among consumers with higher PHLC. RTC meals are preferable for consumers with higher CHLC, since their sense of greater involvement in the cooking process alleviates their feelings of guilt. Cooking with already prepared and uncooked ingredients brought fun and joy, both for the participants and their significant others. This interpretation may be developed into a strategic plan by ready-meal producers to strengthen their marketing strategy.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.650-661
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the importance and satisfaction of consumer selective attributes by home meal replacement (HMR) types using local ingredients. This study was conducted from December 4 to December 8, 2020. A total of 380 responses organized according to preferred types of HMR (100 for Ready to Eat (RTE), 92 for Ready to Heat (RTH), 88 for Ready to Cook (RTC), 100 for Ready to Prepared (RTP) were used for the final analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted by descriptive analysis, paired t-test, and importance-satisfaction analysis by HMR type. Findings of this study showed significant differences in consumer selective attributes by HMR type. RTE and RTC need to improve quality while RTH needs to improve quality and packaging. Notable selective attributes were quality, packaging, and information. They were located in different quadrants of each HMR type. All other attributes appeared in the same quadrant. Further research is needed to determine differences in quality, packaging, and information for each HMR type. Results of this study provide basic data for developing products and marketing strategies for each type of HMR products using local ingredients.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.051-069
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• 2023

This study analyzed the determinants that affect the purchase of ready-to-cook seafood products using the "Consumer Attitude Survey on Processed Foods" from 2018 to 2021. Dietary lifestyle, food awareness and preference survey questions were categorized, and factors affecting the purchase probability of ready-to-cook seafood were identified through a binomial logit model. The main research findings are as follows. First, consumers had higher preference for quality, safety, and new taste factors than health and price factors when purchasing HMR (Home Meal Replacement). Second, through binomial logit model analysis, the probability of purchasing ready-to-cook seafood products was low in the group pursuing taste and economy. On the other hand, the purchase probability was high in the group seeking convenience. Third, the purchase probability of ready-to-cook seafood products was higher in households with two or more persons than in single-person households. These results suggest that differentiated product development and marketing strategies should be needed for each consumer groups in the seafood convenience food market.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.476-484
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• 2019

Objectives: The rise of one-person households may have consequences for food consumption patterns, and eating habits. This study investigated the home meal replacement (HMR) use and eating habits among adults in their 20s-30s living in one-person households. Methods: A total of 247 adults aged 26-39 years participated in this study. The subjects were divided into three group according to the household type; one-person households (n=80), two-person households (n=49), and multi-family (three and more members) households (n=118). Their use of HMRs (classified as ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook, and fresh convenience foods) and their eating habits were all compared. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 30.5 years, 47.8% were male, and there was no significant difference in age, gender, occupation, and monthly income according to the type of household. The intake frequency of total HMR and ready-to-eat foods was significantly higher in one-person households among the three groups. People in one-person households consumed more HMRs alone, and spent more money to buy HMRs. Undesirable dietary habit scores like unbalanced eating (p<0.05) and eating salty foods (p<0.05) were significantly higher in the one-person households. Among the total subjects, the unbalanced eating scores showed a significant positive correlation with the intake frequency of ready-to-eat foods, while the unbalanced eating scores showed negative correlation with the preference of fresh convenience foods. The scores for eating salty foods showed a significant positive correlation with the intake frequency and preference of ready-to-eat foods and ready-to-cook foods, while there was negative correlation with the intake frequency and preference of fresh convenience foods. Conclusions: Adults in their 20s-30s in one-person households consumed more ready-to-eat foods than those in multi-family households. In addition, people with one-person households had more unbalanced diets and ate more salty foods, and these undesirable eating habits showed a significant positive correlation with the use of ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook foods. These results should be addressed for producing healthier ready-to-eat/ready-to-cook foods and implementing nutrition education for making healthy food choices of one-person households, which are steadily increasing.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.788-800
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• 2008

This study was executed in order to analyze the purchasing practices, preferences, and satisfaction of consumers purchasing ready-to-eat foods. The study was executed from the $20\;May{\sim}30\;June$ 2007 in the Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do area. Questionnaires were distributed among 480 people. Of these, 410 questionnaires were collected and applied to a statistical analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS package program (version 14.0 for windows). The results of the statistical analyses were as follows. 42.4% males and 57.6% females participated in this study. The biggest motivation behind the purchase of ready-to-eat foods was convenience, 51.0%. The most common venues where these foods were purchased were supermarkets or discount marts, 67.6%. The ratio of substituting ready-to-eat foods for meals was 70.5%. The consumption practices of ready-to-eat foods of the consumers according to purchase place illustrated significant differences in the average expense per person each time (p<0.01), co-consumer (p<0.001), and age (p<0.05). The purchase preference was high with kimbaps (73.4%), hamburgers (29.8%), sushis (29.0%), and sandwiches (27.9%). Unmarried individuals showed a significantly higher overall liking and satisfaction for ready-to-eat foods than married individuals (p<0.001). Individuals living without a family was significantly higher overall liking and satisfaction than individuals living with a family (p<0.05). Individuals who spent an average of 10,000 won per time showed a significantly higher overall liking and satisfaction than those who spent below 10,000 won per time (p<0.05). In the presence of a friend as a co-consumer of ready-to-eat foods, satisfaction was significantly high (p<0.01). Consumers who purchased ready-to-eat foods at meal times, showed a significantly higher overall liking, compared to those who purchased such food products in between meal times (p<0.01). The preference and satisfaction degree of the consumer must be reflected by product development, quality improvement and marketing plan establishment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.548-557
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• 2019

With the increase of single households and more women entering society, changes to lifestyle, a demand for convenience, and the recent trend for homemade meals, the market for HMR(Home Meal Replacements) is rapidly growing. This study reviewed the repurchase intentions of consumers for RTP(Ready-to-Prepare) HMR products, namely meal kits, and the moderating effect. The study found that i) ease of use increases with higher self-efficacy; ii) ease of use decreases with higher personal innovativeness, but usefulness and repurchase intentions increased; iii) repurchase intentions increase with higher social influence; iv) trust decreases with higher convenience, but repurchase intentions increased; v) trust and repurchase intentions increase with higher economic efficiency; and vi) price sensitivity has a moderating effect between trust and repurchase intentions. The outcomes of this study will not only provide a theoretical basis for a more detailed study of HMR, but is anticipated to be used as fundamental data for suggesting a direction for marketing strategies for product development and sales.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.3 s.99
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• pp.388-400
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of consumers who purchase home meal replacements (HMR) and to analyze the differences for frequency of use, preference, satisfaction, and repurchase intention based on HMR product categories. The subjects were adults in their twenties or older, who had used HMRs and lived in Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province of Korea. Five-hundred and fifty subjects were chosen by random sampling, and questionnaires were distributed from March 12 to 30, 2005. A total of 451 questionnaires were returned (the rate of return was 82%). The primary results of the study are as follows. First, by analyzing for differences based on the demographical characteristics of the HMR consumers, men had higher 'frequencies of use' and preference, whereas women had higher satisfaction and 'intentions to purchase again.' This implies that HMRs assist women who are usually in charge of home food preparation, based on time and cooking effort; hence a higher satisfaction among the women. Second, by analyzing for differences based on the characteristics of HMR consumers who ate the products, 'frequency of use' (p<.001), preference (p<.01), satisfaction (p<.001), and 'intention to repurchase' (p<.001) for the 'ready to eat' HMR category, by the person who prepared the food, were significantly higher for those subjects in their 20s than for those in other age groups. As for persons influenced by the meal, the teen age group had significantly lower 'frequency of use'(p<.001), preference (p<.05), satisfaction (p<.01) and 'intention to repurchase' (p<.01) than other age groups. 'Frequency of use' (p<.001) and preference (p<.05) were lower if the person influenced by the meal was one's spouse or child than if the person influenced by the meal was oneself. Third, regarding the preference for eating at home or eating out, 'frequency of use' was significantly higher than the other analyzed factors for the 'ready to eat,' 'ready to heat,' and 'ready to end-cook' HMR categories. In short, the 'frequency of use' for HMRs was higher for those who preferred to eat at home versus eating out, simply as a result of being bored with eating out, which is essentially the reason for the origin of HMR.