UTILIZAÇÃO DA ÁGUA DE COCO PARA PRODUÇÃO DE REFRIGERANTE: PESQUISA DE MERCADO E POTENCIALIDADES

Abstract

The food industry is constantly evolving and, therefore, has increasingly sought the use of natural sources in its formulations. In this context, coconut water emerges as a promising alternative raw material for applications in the industrial sector. This study aimed to understand the technological, methodological, and sensory potential of coconut water as a base for the development of a new soft drink. To this end, an exploratory study was conducted through the application of a questionnaire via the Google Forms platform, with the participation of 78 individuals. The questionnaire consisted of 16 open and closed questions in order to identify consumer profiles, their expectations, and the level of acceptance of the proposed product. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to state that the majority of participants were female, considered young adults aged between 18 and 29 years, with a high level of education and moderate family income, indicating good purchasing power — factors that may have influenced the willingness of 47.4% of participants who stated they would be willing to purchase and try the coconut water soft drink. The main positive comments highlighted its light flavor, refreshing quality, and the innovative aspect of the product, while criticisms were related to a possible artificial taste and the perception that the product might not be healthy. It is concluded that there is potential for launching the coconut water soft drink, provided that effective marketing strategies are adopted and a possible sugar-free formulation is developed, highlighting only the natural sugars present in coconut water