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Article
Situationally-Defined Market Structure: The Japanese Snack Market
International Marketing Review (2003)
  • Kenneth C. Gehrt, San Jose State University
  • S. Shim, University of Arizona
Abstract
The study demonstrates the viability of situational segmentation in a market outside the USA. A number of situational segmentation studies in the USA have examined the snacking market. This study examines situational segmentation opportunities in the context of the Japanese snacking market. The study attempts to delineate a situationally-defined market structure for a broadly defined array of snack products. This is done by characterizing 18 snacks in terms of pertinent situational factors via dummy variable regression analysis; and grouping the snacks in terms of the similarity of their situational characterizations via cluster analysis. The study reveals four multi-product snack segments, including solitary snacking cluster, socializing ensemble cluster, high gravity socialization cluster, and morning home snack. The results show that situational segmentation is as effective in complementing more traditional segmentation approaches in Japan as it is in the USA.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2003
Citation Information
Kenneth C. Gehrt and S. Shim. "Situationally-Defined Market Structure: The Japanese Snack Market" International Marketing Review Vol. 20 Iss. 2 (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kenneth_gehrt/13/