UNDERSTAND — Consumer Research
Consumer research with the people who buy your category
Consumer research finds out what shoppers think, choose and pay for, asked where they actually shop. FOTS runs intercepts, trial feedback and preference testing in stores, on streets and at events, and reports what it means for your product, pack and price.
The problem we solve.
Online panels answer quickly but at a distance from the purchase. Brands end up with opinions about a concept rather than reactions to the product in the moment of choice.
How consumer research works with FOTS.
- 01
Frame the question
Pack, price, proposition, flavour or competitor preference — one clear decision.
- 02
Ask in context
Intercepts and taste tests at the fixture, on the street or at events, with real product in hand.
- 03
Report the choice
Preferences, reasons and objections, with what they imply commercially.
What you get
- Research design and question set
- Consumer intercepts and taste tests
- Trial feedback capture
- Demographic and location breakdowns
- Findings and recommendations
Where we deliver it
- In store and at the fixture
- Street intercepts
- Events and festivals
- Gyms and workplaces
How we measure it.
Every campaign reports against the numbers a commercial team actually uses.
- Respondents
- Preference share
- Purchase intent
- Price sensitivity
- Key objections
Proof.
Neutonic — Taking a fast-growing drinks brand into London retail.
- 3,000+
- stores visited
- 2,049
- samples delivered
- 678
- orders
- 6,114
- cases sold
What can consumer research settle?
Pack and flavour choices, price acceptability, competitor preference and the objections that stop a first purchase.
How is data handled?
Only with clear consent and a stated purpose, in line with UK GDPR and PECR.
Works well with
If your objective is
Frequently asked questions.
- How many respondents do we need?
- Enough for confidence in the decision you are making; we size it against that rather than a default number.
- Can research run alongside sampling?
- Yes, and it is efficient — consumers are already trying the product.
- Do we get the raw data?
- Yes, alongside the report.
Talk to us about consumer research.
Tell us your objective and we'll tell you what we'd do first.