Leveraging existing high-value cacao products: A market-oriented approach to targeting health-conscious consumers in Lasam, Cagayan valley, Philippines

Paper Details

Research Paper 07/12/2024
Views (1268)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Leveraging existing high-value cacao products: A market-oriented approach to targeting health-conscious consumers in Lasam, Cagayan valley, Philippines

Florante Victor M. Balatico, Bernard P. Madarang, John Carlo L. Banan, Jr. Dominador A. Agatep
Int. J. Biosci. 25(6), 269-279, December 2024.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2024; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

This study examines the market-oriented strategy for utilizing Lasam’s high-value cacao goods, with a focus on consumers that are health-conscious. Lasam’s rich agricultural landscape puts it in a good position to take advantage of the rising demand for wholesome, ethically sourced food. Because of its antioxidant qualities, cacao offers local growers a special opportunity as consumer preferences shift toward healthier options. This study emphasizes how crucial it is to comprehend customer behavior, highlighting the importance of sustainability and health benefits as major determinants of purchase decisions. We collected information from regional cacao growers, farmers, and health-conscious customers using both qualitative and quantitative measures. According to the research, highlighting the health advantages of cacao in addition to sustainable and ethical sourcing methods can greatly increase customer trust and brand loyalty. Additionally, a sense of pride and support for local products are fostered by successful marketing methods that align with community values. The findings of this study indicate that by matching their products to the preferences of health-conscious customers, Lasam’s stakeholders can promote both communal well-being and economic growth. Local companies can capitalize on a growing market by adopting a market-oriented approach that emphasizes the ethical and nutritional benefits of cocoa production, which will ultimately benefit both growers and consumers. The purpose of this study is to offer practical suggestions for utilizing valuable cacao products in order to support the region’s sustainable development.

Aaker DA. 1999. Building a brand: The Aaker model. California Management Review 36(2), 77-85.

Al Dujaili EA, 2014. Dark chocolate: An obesity paradox or a culprit for weight gain? Phytotherapy Research 28(6), 791-797.

Al Moraisi EA, 2023. Chocolate intake and muscle pain sensation: A randomized experimental study. PLoS ONE 18(5).

Arai T, 2022. Dark chocolate intake may reduce fatigue and mediate cognitive function and gray matter volume in healthy middle-aged adults.

Arora R, 2021. Impact of digital marketing on consumer behavior. Journal of Business Research 124, 356-365.

Bencic A, 2020. Chocolate and risk of chronic disease: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. European Journal of Nutrition 59(1), 389-397.

Boekholdt SM. 2016. Habitual chocolate consumption and the risk of incident heart failure among healthy men and women. Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases 26(8), 722-734.

Brown J, 2019. Social influence and consumer behavior: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consumer Research 45(4), 742-757.

Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. 2012. Cacao industry cluster roadmap.

Caggiano G, 2019. Chocolate, “food of the gods”: History, science, and human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(24), 4960.

Cha L, 2022. Consumption of 85% cocoa dark chocolate improves mood in association with gut microbial changes in healthy adults: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 99, 108854.

Chavez-Santoscoy AV, 2018. Daily consumption of chocolate rich in flavonoids decreases cellular genotoxicity and improves biochemical parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism. Molecules 23(9), 2220.

Cinquanta L, 2016. Mineral essential element for nutrition in different chocolate products. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 67(7), 773-778.

Da Costa T, 2019. Consumption of coffee or caffeine and serum concentration of inflammatory markers: A systematic review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 59(4), 652-663.

Da-Silva LG, 2022. Effect of chocolate on older patients with cancer in palliative care: A randomized controlled study. BMC Palliative Care 21(1), 1-12.

Demurtas J, Is there a relationship between chocolate consumption and symptoms of depression? A cross-sectional survey of 13,626 US adults. Depression and Anxiety 36(10), 987-995.

Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry. 2014. Cacao industry roadmap.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 2017. The Philippines in the cocoa-chocolate global value chain.

Dholakia RR. 2016. Economic conditions and consumer behavior: An empirical investigation. Journal of Consumer Affairs 50(2), 215-239.

Ghost D. 2002. The top cocoa-producing countries in the world. World Atlas.

Glassman S. 2024. Cacao vs. cocoa: What’s the difference. Forbes Health. Forbes.

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). 2019. Sustainable Commodities Marketplace Series 2019, Global Market Report: Cocoa.

Järvenpää AL, 2004. Sweet babies: Chocolate consumption during pregnancy and infant temperament at six months. Early Human Development 76(2), 139-145.

Karunathilake N, 2018. Effects of milk vs dark chocolate consumption on visual acuity and contrast sensitivity within 2 hours: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Ophthalmology 136(6), 678-681.

Kawai E, 2024. Cacao polyphenol-rich dark chocolate intake contributes to efficient brain activity during cognitive tasks; A randomized, single-blinded, crossover, and dose-comparison fMRI study. Nutrients 16(1), 41.

Kaźmierczak HW, 2020. To eat or not to eat: A review of the relationship between chocolate and migraines. Nutrients 12(3), 608.

Kumar V, 2020. Sustainability and consumer behavior: The role of green marketing. Business Strategy and the Environment 29(4), 1685-1695.

National Library of Medicine. 2021. Caffeine. MedlinePlus.

Nielsen. 2019. Global consumers seek companies that care.

Otelea MR and Zugravu C. 2019. Dark chocolate: To eat or not to eat? A review. Journal of AOAC International 102(5), 1388-1396.

Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA). OpenStat.

Seem SA, 2019. Chocolate and chocolate constituents influence bone health and osteoporosis risk. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, California) 65, 47-84.

Shah BR. 2023. Milk chocolate vs. dark chocolate: Is one healthier than the other? St. Mary’s Health Care System.

Thogersen J. 2010. The importance of culture in the adoption of organic food. Journal of Consumer Marketing 27(2), 198-206.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2019. FoodData Central Search Results. FoodData Central.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2020. FoodData Central Search Results. FoodData Central.

Related Articles

The role of aberrant glycosylation in autoimmune disease development and progression

Md. Nafis Fuad Prottoy, Sayad Md. Didarul Alam*, Int. J. Biosci. 28(6), 1-12, June 2026.

Molecular surveillance of African swine fever virus in raw pork and blood samples from wet markets and abattoirs in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Hannah Lee R. Guirren*, Benjamin Abella, Aira D. Cuarteros, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 66-75, May 2026.

Limonene-enhanced botanical fungicides: A sustainable component of integrated tomato powdery mildew management in the tropical region

Edmund F. Luena*, Angela G. Mkindi, Akida I. Meya, Nelson S. Mpumi, Steven R. Belmain, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 52-65, May 2026.

Kapwa (Shared identity): The case of being community health workers (CHWs) in Cagayan Province, Philippines

Jay Emmanuel L. Asuncion, Julius T. Capili, Jinky Marie T. Chua*, Pauline Grace P. Casil-Batang, Lara Melissa G. Luis, Dorina D. Sabatin, Krisha Anne A. Hipolito, Ethel Marie M. Mangada, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 43-51, May 2026.

Effects of corn silage-based diets on carcass and meat characteristics of Philippine native swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis carabanensis)

Vince Randolf R. Sumajit*, Phoebe Lyndia T. Llantada, Ann-Sherly R. Dugyon, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 36-42, May 2026.

Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practices of frontliners toward community-acquired pneumonia in the Cagayan, Philippines

Jinky Marie T. Chua*, Nikko Alexander S. Pacquing, Ann P. Chua, Ethel Marie M. Mangada, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 26-35, May 2026.

Therapeutic potential of protocatechuic acid in in silico evaluation, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory effects for cardiovascular health

Bhavadharseny Uma Shanmugasundaram, Subashini Ragunathan*, Int. J. Biosci. 28(5), 1-10, May 2026.