Understanding Consumer Preferences in Kahramanmaraş for Bulgur and Bulgur Products

Bulgur and bulgur products may be sold and stored in bags composed of cloth or polymer, which exhibit disparate permeability and physical characteristics that could potentially impact the product. The products can be sold in bulk without individual packaging, directly from sacks or specific bulk storage, in accordance with customer requirements. The aim of the study was to evaluate preferred storage-packaging systems for bulgur and bulgur products by consumers in Kahramanmaraş region. In the region, some consumers produce their own bulgur at home instead of buying it from the market. Accordingly, an investigation of bulgur and its derivatives has been undertaken to ascertain consumer preferences with regard to home production, direct purchases from sacks, bulk purchases, and purchases of those already packed. These factors are important for the purpose of revealing bulgur consumption habits. The recommendations that can be drawn from the results obtained in this study are expected to contribute to the consumption and marketing of the bulgur. In addition, awareness was created of the preference for bulgur, fine bulgur, firik, and very fine bulgur and their importance in terms of health, packaging systems, and storage in Kahramanmaraş province. This survey was applied to 350 households in order to interview face-to-face with households living in the urban area of Kahramanmaraş province. The statistical examination of the data revealed that consumers lack sufficient information regarding the nutritional value of the products in question. Furthermore, it was evaluated that the effect of the packaging materials used for bulgur and bulgur products on the product properties, including shelf life, is not widely understood by consumers.