Is it really natural? How minimalist food packaging influences consumers’ perception of product naturalness

Purpose Although prior research has shown the influence of the degree of simplicity (versus complexity) in packaging design on consumer’s product and brand perceptions, no research to date has analyzed the effect of minimalist packaging on perceived product naturalness. This research thus aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms explaining how a minimalist food packaging design may lead consumers to perceive a product as more natural. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on two pre-tests and two experiments ( N = 152 and N = 220) focusing on food products. Serial–parallel mediations are performed to test the effect of minimalist packaging design on perceived product naturalness. Findings In a food consumption context, we demonstrate and replicate the positive impact of minimalism on perceived product uniqueness, which then positively influences both production mode and perceived taste, which, in turn, increases perceived product naturalness. Originality/value The findings provide new insights into the influence of food packaging design on consumers’ product perception. This paper offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between minimalist food packaging design and product naturalness by highlighting the mediating roles of perceived uniqueness, production mode and perceived taste.