1,721,091 research outputs found
Wine and health: faraway concepts?
No full textPurpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore consumers’ perceptions and beliefs in the health benefits of wine and the relationship with wine consumption patterns.
Design/methodology/approach
– In store face-to-face survey results from 402 wine consumers were elaborated with two-step cluster analysis. ANOVA confirmed differences among groups. Groups were profiled by a χ2 significance analysis when adequate. A multivariate binary logistic regression estimated wine consumption influence on healthiness perceptions.
Findings
– Consumers converge into four groups: two health-oriented – optimistic and medical; two non-health-oriented – unintentional drinker and unconvinced. Groups are not significantly differentiated in socio-economic terms. Wine consumption behaviour influences health orientation, specifically for monthly and wine drinkers, vs weekly and other alcohol drinkers. Health-oriented consumers favourably welcome and are willing to pay more for health-enhancing wine. Consumers believe that wine consumption mainly benefits atherosclerosis and hypertension.
Research limitations/implications
– Since health-oriented wine is not common in the market, consumers provided answers based on their experience with other health-oriented food and beverages and on the common appreciation of the “terroir” perspective. Future research could extend the analysis on health claims and nutrition claims through blind wine tasting, price range acceptability and market potential dimensions.
Practical implications
– The high number of wine SKUs and consumer interest in wine healthiness suggest wine manufacturers should invest in health-oriented differentiation strategies, focused on atherosclerosis and hypertension claims and higher prices.
Social implications
– Given worldwide wine consumption, the research findings contribute to public health policy by addressing alcoholism and promoting healthy consumption behaviour.
Originality/value
– The findings provide insights for private and public sectors to support innovative approaches for the development of health-promoting food system
Healthy Food: Determinants of Price Knowledge of Functional Dairy Products
No full textAgri-food business pricing practices assume that consumers know about prices and that price is an impediment to healthy food purchase and consumption. The present article assesses functional dairy food shoppers’ price knowledge accuracy and its determinants. The data were gathered from 207 face-to-face interviews with shoppers at the point of sale and were analyzed with binary logistic regression testing a number of set hypotheses. Results show that healthy food price knowledge is higher than for conventional food but still low, and consumers tend to underestimate the price paid. Price knowledge accuracy increases with high purchase frequency, promotional products, hedonistic consumption, and for enhanced function products. Results provide a basis for higher sustainable pricing strategies. Consumers’ inability to distinguish misleading pricing strategies calls for regulators to ensure fair and ethical market practices, especially for healthy food
Consumer’s Perception of Fruit Innovation
No full textThe objective of the present report is to explore consumers’ perception of fruit and fruit product innovations, in particular nutritionally enriched/fortified fruit and laser-tattoo labeled fruit. These innovations may modify consumers’ visual representation of fruit, influencing their perceptions of fruit integrity. The research included 537 face-to-face interviews with shoppers at the point of sale and was analyzed with the use of factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results show that the consumers pursue “nature integrity–oriented” innovation, for both health and environment-oriented innovation. The consumer is cautious toward innovation and accepts it if the final product keeps its original familiarity. Consumers are more inclined toward innovation if they have a higher education level, are young or middle age, or have a higher income. To conclude, innovation is positively perceived if it respects consumers’ perception of fruit as being intrinsically natural. Innovation in fruit and fruit products should be tested against consumers’ acceptance
Assessment of nutrition-focused mobile apps' influence on consumers' healthy food behaviour and nutrition knowledge
Full text linkThe research explored if a nutrition-information app influences consumers’ healthy food behavior and whether consumers improve their knowledge towards healthy food. Diet and nutrition apps are among the most popular health and fitness apps used by an increasing number of mobile device users. The analyzed app reads the product labels. Then it assesses the quality of ingredients and nutritional values based on user’s personal data, such as age and physical activity level, and recommends healthier food alternatives. Scientific evidence of the effectiveness of nutrition-information apps for promoting consumers’ healthy food behavior is still limited. The theoretical framework of the study is grounded in constructs from Health Belief Model (HBM) and Trans-theoretical Model (TTM) theories. Data were collected from consumers that spontaneously downloaded an existing nutrition-information app. Out of the 7000 consumers contacted, 143 respondents filled in both the baseline and follow-up questionnaires. The questionnaires included items deriving from the HBM and TTM theoretical constructs adopted, that is self-reported stage of change, susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action, perceived and objective healthy food knowledge. The average age of respondents is 38 year-old and the sample of respondents is well distributed in terms of level of education, gender, income, working status, and geographical distribution. Findings of the study showed that nutrition-information apps can be effective in overcoming what consumers perceive as personal limitations in approaching healthy food. This is particularly evident among consumers that are building their motivation and concretely planning actions in favor of healthy eating. In particular, using a nutrition-information app decreases the perception of the barriers to healthy food eating. Users have a higher perceived personal strength and self-confidence in approaching healthy food. App users improved their objective and subjective knowledge of healthy food. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the theoretical framework. The results support that family members and friends play a specific role in healthy food behavior inclination. This suggests the inclusion of an additional theoretical construct, the social and family influence construct, when assessing the effectiveness of nutrition-information apps. To improve nutrition-information app effectiveness, the recommendation is that consumer behavior scientists, marketing researchers, nutritionists, and app developers cooperate in the apps design
Coffee consumption and purchasing behavior review: Insights for further research
No full textThis paper presents a systematic literature review of consumer research towards coffee with the objective to identify and categorize motives, preferences and attributes of coffee consumption and purchasing behavior. Research papers were analyzed in terms of main characteristics and components (study type, research methodology, sampling, and product type). The review gives a systematic overview of the heterogeneous group of concepts and approaches that have been used so far to examine consumer behavior towards coffee. Results provide a model of key determinants for coffee consumption that can be grouped into the categories, (1) personal preferences, (2) economic attributes, (3) product attributes, (4) context of consumption, and (5) socio-demographics. The findings also show that there is a strong focus on coffee sustainability
Unveiling farmers' perspectives on urban food policies: The case of farmers' markets in Bologna (Italy)
Full text linkFarmers' Markets (FMs) are increasingly recognised for their transformative potential in the food system, as they
represent a viable alternative to large-scale food distribution in urban areas. Given their increasing importance at
city level, ad hoc urban food policies to regulate FMs have been implemented by several Italian municipalities.
However, both policymakers and academia tend to focus on consumers' opinions and needs, while farmers'
perspectives on urban food policies regulating FMs have been overlooked, as well as the relationship between
various levels of governance involved in FMs. The present research aims to fill this gap by delving into farmers'
drivers for selling at FMs, as well as their perceptions on FMs Regulation in Bologna (Italy). The research adopts a
Multi-Level Governance (MLG) theoretical approach to show the relationships between the three levels of
governance involved in FMs (macro, meso, micro) and provide recommendations on how the governance dy-
namics can be improved. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, analysing questionnaire answers with a
combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather comprehensive insights from FMs farmers. In
terms of quantitative methods, the answers of 140 FMs participants are analysed through an Exploratory Factor
Analysis (EFA) and a Multinomial Logistic regression model (MNL).
Key findings maintain that farmers' drivers for selling at FMs in Bologna are aligned with the value proposition
of Bologna FMs Regulation. Thus, the relationship with consumers, which allows for direct exchange and
increased consumers awareness, is the main driver. However, farmers believe the Municipality (the macro level)
could further address FMs farmers' needs and drivers (the micro level). The meso level of governance, namely
FMs organising associations, should be an intermediary between the macro and the micro levels, that better
informs and processes the flow of information and decisions between the two. By analysing farmers' perspectives,
this study offers significant insights into the dynamics of local food systems and the role of urban policies in
shaping these systems. It highlights the need for harmonising regulatory frameworks with the needs of FMs
farmers to improve urban food policies. The findings from Bologna can be helpful for other cities facing similar
challenges in urban food system governance
Data on the potential of nutrition-information apps from a consumer behaviour perspective
Full text linkThis paper presents data on the influence of the use of a nutrition-information app (Edo) on healthy eating. The methodology adopted included a baseline (t0) and a follow-up online questionnaire (t1). The first survey was sent to 7000 consumers who had already downloaded the app. This survey collected data on users’ perceived healthiness of their own diet, food purchasing habits, sociodemographic information, concern for appearance, perception of the Health Belief Model constructs, and objective and perceived healthy food knowledge. The follow-up survey (t1) was sent to the respondents who had used the app for 12 weeks. It collected data on app satisfaction, recommended additional app features, consumers’ perception on the Health Belief Model constructs, and consumers’ objective and perceived healthy food knowledge. Data elaboration included two factor analyses elaboration, one for t0 data and one for t1 data. The aim was the identification of constructs as latent factors of the data. The value of each construct was calculated and compared between t0 and t1. The data presented in this article can help the replication of studies about similar apps and enhance the cooperation among app developers, consumer behaviour scientists, nutritionists and marketing experts for apps development. For conclusion and interpretation of data, the original article can be consulted (DOI:10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108766)
Twitter communication of agri-food chain actors on palm oil environmental, socio-economic, and health sustainability
No full textPalm oil is the world most used vegetable oil and its use as food ingredient is criticized for creating environmental, socio-economic, and health sustainability challenges. In Europe, the debate on palm oil sustainability has strongly intensified in the latest years involving several agri-food chain actors and stakeholders. The research explores Twitter content of key palm oil agri-food chain actors on palm oil multiple sustainability dimensions, focusing on the European context. First, the study applied a qualitative deductive approach to categorize palm oil sustainability dimensions. Second, among the 463 palm oil agri-food chain companies identified, 198 have an active Twitter account, including world palm oil producers, European bakery and chocolate manufacturers, and European food retailers. One hundred seven accounts tweet on palm oil. Third, a term frequency analysis and an in-depth textual analysis of tweets on palm oil sustainability issues were carried out. Results confirms that all agri-food chain actors communicate about palm oil sustainability, adopting a multi-dimension outlook. Palm oil producers actively use Twitter to promote palm oil sustainability, whereas European manufacturers and retailers limit their activity to react to consumers' questioning. Whereas palm oil producers tend to shape consumers' opinion over the benefits and the opportunities of palm oil use, food manufacturers and retailers adopt a purely informative approach on sustainability certification, avoiding the engagement over sensitive issues. Health is the most mentioned sustainability dimension. The study also confirms differences between agri-food chain actors' marketing communication. Finally, the study confirms that, in the case of sensitive issues, as for palm oil sustainability, Twitter is as able to drive companies' communication
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