Recently, consumers have shown increasing interest in dessert consumption that stimulates emotions and offers special experiences, rather than merely engaging in basic food consumption for survival. In the saturated dessert market, such differentiated...
Recently, consumers have shown increasing interest in dessert consumption that stimulates emotions and offers special experiences, rather than merely engaging in basic food consumption for survival. In the saturated dessert market, such differentiated experiences have heightened consumer attention toward traditional desserts, while the novelty and originality of traditional snacks have further strengthened interest in their consumption.
While traditional desserts inherit traditional ingredients and manufacturing techniques, they have evolved to align with contemporary consumer preferences and modern sensibilities through innovations in design, packaging, and flavor diversification. In addition, within the traditional dessert market, the shift toward online platforms is gaining attention as a key pathway for securing new growth engines by enhancing consumer accessibility and expanding market reach. Accordingly, this study applied the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology(UTAUT2) to systematically analyze online platform based distribution strategies and consumers’ acceptance intentions for the sustainable growth of the traditional dessert industry. Through this approach, the study sought to identify the acceptance determinants that serve as drivers of relationship formation.
To this end, the UTAUT2 model was divided into a firm perspective and a user perspective, and the study examined the causal relationship between consumers’ behavioral intention and their actual continuous use behavior. In addition, we sought to distinguish and verify the relationship between each construct, including the Information System Success Model(ISSM) of service characteristics, Integrated Technology Acceptance Theory from a corporate perspective, personal innovativeness and self-efficacy from personal characteristics, and Integrated Technology Acceptance Theory from a user perspective.
To test these hypotheses, a survey was conducted using a Google Form targeting consumers who had experience purchasing or using traditional desserts through online platforms from August 20 to September 14, 2025. A total of 527 responses were collected and used as the final valid sample.
Through the SPSS 29.0 and AMOS 27.0 programs, the UTAUT2 model related to the online traditional dessert platform was derived with five dimensions from the corporate perspective(performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions) and the user perspective(hedonic motivation, price value). In addition, behavioral intention and use behavior were each measured as single-dimensional constructs. The Information System Success Model(system quality, information quality, service quality) was extracted as three distinct dimensions for service characteristics, while personal innovativeness and self-efficacy, representing individual characteristics, were each extracted as single-dimensional constructs. A structural equation modeling(SEM) approach was then employed to test the hypotheses.
As a result of the verification, first, it was analyzed that the corporate perspective(performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions) of the UTAUT2 model on acceptance of use of the online traditional dessert platform all had a significant influence on behavioral intention. Second, UTAUT2's user perspective(hedonic motivation, price value) was confirmed to have a significant influence on behavioral intention. Third, as a result of verifying the influence relationship between the corporate perspectives of the UTAUT2 model for ISSM(system quality, information quality, service quality) of service characteristics, it was verified that there was a statistically significant influence relationship between all factors except the influence relationship between information quality and effort expectancy. Fourth, personal innovativeness of personal characteristics was verified to have a significant influence on the user perspective of the UTAUT2 model, and self-efficacy of personal characteristics was analyzed to have a significant influence in the order of price value and hedonic motivation. Lastly, it was proven that consumers' behavioral intention is a major variable that affects continuous use behavior.
Implications are suggested based on these research results. First, from the corporate perspective of the UTAUT2 model, the performance expectancy factor was analyzed as a major determinant that has the greatest impact on consumers' acceptance intention. This suggests that a consumer-centered utility creation strategy is required, such as providing better benefits and practical values related to utility, and providing reliable information. Second, it suggests that consumers do not only use online traditional dessert platforms from a utility perspective, but also require an acceptance plan based on a balanced value perception between fun or enjoyment and economic rationality. Third, system quality within the ISSM was identified as the most influential determinant among all corporate perspective factors of the UTAUT2 model. This finding suggests the need to strengthen consumer-oriented utility features-such as personalized search functions for traditional desserts, customization options based on consumer preferences, and the provision of tailored services. Fourth, given that consumers with high personal innovativeness prefer personalized services incorporating new technologies and exhibit a desire to continuously explore new experiences within online platforms, it is necessary to provide immersive services when designing and structuring platform content. Fifth, a user-centered platform environment is required to enable consumers to effectively utilize their traditional dessert purchasing experiences in an online setting. Above all, it is essential to create an environment that minimizes difficulties in using various platform functions, thereby allowing consumers to easily access the platform, search for information, and confidently navigate and operate the system. Lastly, the results confirmed that consumers with a stronger willingness or intention to accept the services offered by the online traditional dessert platform are more likely to engage in actual traditional dessert purchase behavior. Moreover, such intentions function as a key antecedent that fosters continued exploration and future purchasing activities. Above all, the findings suggest that although consumers may possess behavioral intentions, it is essential to make efforts to facilitate their transition into continuous use behavior by minimizing the barriers that prevent intention from translating into actual action.