4. General conclusions and implications for future research
Through the performance of a means-end and laddering
study involving 50 Dutch consumers, we have approached
the issue of the motives behind choice of meals and meal
replacing alternatives. The findings of this study introduce
new evidence of what could also be an important determinant
of ready meal consumption: the negative valuation of
convenience attributes, deriving from the conviction that
an appropriate amount of effort, attention and time should
be put into meal preparation. By suggesting the existence of
a close association between moral issues and ready meal
use in the minds of consumers, this research has clearly
contributed to extend the knowledge about conveniencedriven
food choice beyond the realm of economic rationality.