| dc.description.abstract | Objective: To determine the consumption pattern and characteristics
of potato crisps in Nairobi City, Kenya.
Methodology and results: Potato crisps consumption pattern was
studied using studied structured questionnaires to collect data from
215 crisps consumers. A total of 80 shops were surveyed to
establish the brands and characteristics of potato crisps sold within
Nairobi City. The available brands were then sampled and evaluated
at the University of Nairobi. Of the sampled 215 consumers were
males while 67.4 % were females. A majority, 73.9 % consumed
potato crisps on average once a week. A part from gender, the
frequency of purchasing crisps was also influenced by factors such
as occasions, seasons and availability of money. Most consumers
(22.3 %) preferred Tropical heat brand, 10.82 % preferred Krackles
while the least (0.57 %) preferred Pringles, Delice and Highlands
crisps. The most preferred flavor was onion and slightly salted
crisps. The most purchased packaging units (51.7 %) ranged from
30-50 g due to affordability, retailing at Kshs. 30-40 (about 0.5
USD) compared to units of 150 g and above that were least
purchased (1.7 %) due to their high costs, retailing at Kshs. 100
(about 1.5 USD) and above. A total of 28 % of the consumers
bought crisps for self-consumption while 72 % purchased both for
self and family members.
All the outlets surveyed (100 %) sold potato crisps. Only 15 % of the
outlets stocked potato crisps and other potato products such as
chevda and potato sticks. A total of 24 brands of crisps were sold in
Nairobi city. The most stocked brands in the outlets were Tropical
heat and Krackles that were available in 46 and 45 % of the outlets
surveyed, respectively. All the shops surveyed stocked brands of
crisps made in Kenya while only 15.3 % of the outlets also had
imported brands. The units of packaging ranged from less than 10 g
to 1 kg. The most popular unit packages (40 %) varied from 10 to
100 g as they were cheap and affordable to most customers selling
between Kshs. 10 to Kshs. 60. The study indicates that potato crisps
are highly consumed by young children and youths in their teen ages
while parents were moderate buyers of the products. Laboratory
characteristics of the brands evaluated included colour, size,
thickness, moisture, salt and oil contents that significantly (PB0.05)
differed among the brands. The oil content ranged from 24.37 to
40.22 % while the moisture and salt contents varied from 1.09 to
5.45 %, and 1.10 to 2.96 %, respectively.
Conclusions and application of results: Consumption of crisps in
Nairobi city depends on gender, occasions, and seasons of the year
and availability of disposable income. Except in the sizes, most
brands had characteristics that conformed to the standards set for
crisps. This study provides a view of the current scenario in the
crisp market and is useful information to consumers, processors and
policy makers in the potato sub sector. | en |
