The study of consumers´ profile and the factors involved in the moment of purchasing yogurt is an important tool for identifying different market segments and their potentialities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to interview 387 yogurt consumers residing in the city of Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil, using structured questionnaires. The results were analyzed in a descriptive way. Pearson´s correlation was applied in order to verify the correlation between sociodemographic characteristics and the consumers´ profile. The results indicated that strawberry flavored yogurt shows the greatest acceptance among consumers and the category of light/diet represents a great part of the consumers' preferences (54%). According to the survey, 39,9% of the respondents that do not consume light/diet yogurts stated that they do not appreciate these products. These results shows the importance of carrying out research to develop light/diet yogurt with improved sensorial quality. One of the main reasons pointed out for consumers not to eat light/ diet yogurt is that they do not see the need for consuming it. In the city the research took place, quality, brand and price had the greatest importance in the act of purchasing, since these were the three main attributes reported to have been observed in the moment of the purchase.The analysis of the correlation between consumption and socio-demographic factors showed that income and age influence both the frequency of yogurt consumption and the consumption of the light/diet version of the product.
Yogurt; consumers; market research
