Can Advertising Influence the Results of Hedonic Tests for Food Practice

This study questions the relevance of advertising in hedonic tests. A consumer experiment (N = 305) points out that the outcomes of a hedonic test of three different recipes vary significantly according to whether they are preceded by a real TV commercial, a simple presentation of the advertising concept or only the name of the tasted brand. Four experimental designs indicate different preference rankings, which have distinctive managerial implications. In particular, this study points out the need to integrate advertising into hedonic tests at a very early stage of new product development process. Limitations and future research avenues are finally discussed.