Use of latent class regression models with a random intercept to remove the effects of the overall response rating level

Food manufacturers need to understand the taste preferences of their consumers in order to develop successful new products. The existence of consumer segments that differ in systematic ways in their taste preferences can have important implications for product development. Rather than developing a product to please all potential consumers, the manufacturer may decide to optimize the product for the most important segment (perhaps the largest or most profitable). Alternatively, the manufacturer may opt for developing a number of products with different sensory profiles, each satisfying at least one of the segments.