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21 – 30 of over 13000Veronica Marozzo, Alessandra Costa, Antonio Crupi and Tindara Abbate
This study aims to examine the most influential drivers, both product-specific and consumer-specific, affecting Asian consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for organic olive oil.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the most influential drivers, both product-specific and consumer-specific, affecting Asian consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for organic olive oil.
Design/methodology/approach
To individuate the most influential drivers of WTP for organic products and to assess their effect, in terms of configurational paths and consumer profiles, this study sequentially employs explorative factor analysis approach and a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method. The survey is carried out in different areas of Asia (e.g. Pakistan, Vietnam and China).
Findings
The results suggest that Asian consumers' WTP for organic products is described by consumer-specific drivers (gender, occupation and household size) as well as product-specific drivers (product authenticity and sustainability, consumer ethnocentrism and food fraud risk perception).
Originality/value
The findings of the study permit the identification of different drivers that move consumers' WTP for organic olive oil. The study contributes to setting the ground for companies to propose and implement efficacious marketing strategies for organic olive oil in importing countries, such as Asia.
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Angsuthon Thuannadee and Chutarat Noosuwan
This study investigated consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a local, organic chicken breed “Taphao Thong-Kasetsart” and the drivers that shape consumers’ WTP across different…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a local, organic chicken breed “Taphao Thong-Kasetsart” and the drivers that shape consumers’ WTP across different meat preferences in Thailand.
Design/methodology/approach
Face-to-face interviewing was used to collect data at food-service outlets in Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom provinces, Thailand. Data analysis used the double-bounded dichotomous choice model across different consumers’ meat preferences for preferred chicken and non-preferred chicken consumers.
Findings
The results showed that there were different WTP amounts for local organic chicken across consumers’ meat preferences, with a higher WTP among non-preferred chicken consumers. This indicated that local organic chicken may attract more consumers in the alternative market. Consumers’ values and attitudes to taste drove chicken-preferred consumers to pay a premium for local organic chicken; health concerns mattered for non-preferred chicken consumers. These findings should provide useful information for food marketing campaigns based on consumers’ preferences.
Originality/value
The study contributed to understanding consumer heterogeneous preferences toward WTP for local organic chicken. The findings indicated that analyzing WTP across different meat preferences highlighted more effective marketing strategies to achieve the premium that consumers would pay. These strategies could help farmers to enlarge their local organic market share, leading to increased revenue and farmers’ well-being.
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Luciene Eberle, Gabriel Sperandio Milan, Ana Paula Graciola, Miriam Borchardt and Giancarlo Medeiros Pereira
The present research had the objectives of proposing, testing and validating a theoretical model that includes ecological awareness, healthy consumption, consumer attitude and…
Abstract
Purpose
The present research had the objectives of proposing, testing and validating a theoretical model that includes ecological awareness, healthy consumption, consumer attitude and price awareness as determinants of the purchase intention of organic foods and analyzing the moderating effect of gender, educational level and income of families in the relationship between price awareness and purchase intention.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey research was implemented with 382 Brazilians who consume organic foods from a non-probabilistic sample for convenience. For data analysis, structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed theoretical model and its respective relationships.
Findings
The results showed that ecological awareness, healthy consumption, consumer attitude and price awareness are determinants of the purchase intention of organic foods 79.1% of the variance of purchase intention of organic foods could be explained by such determinants. Another relevant result is that gender and family income has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between price awareness and the intention to purchase organic food.
Originality/value
Environmental problems and their adverse impacts on humans have become an important issue to be analyzed by academics (researchers), governments and organizations, and their managers, especially when organic foods are considered.
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Kelsey Hamilton and Sharareh Hekmat
The purpose of this study is to provide information relating to organic food consumption patterns specific to the Canadian population and youth demographic. The primary objective…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide information relating to organic food consumption patterns specific to the Canadian population and youth demographic. The primary objective of this pilot study is to investigate the knowledge, consumption patterns and willingness to pay for organic food among the first-year University students enrolled in courses at Brescia University College.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire has been developed by the researchers and distributed to several first-year classes at Brescia University College. The results have been analyzed using Wilcoxon scores (rank sums), Wilcoxon two-sample test, Spearman correlation coefficients and univariate and multivariate regression analyses. A theme analysis has been generated from open-ended questions.
Findings
No significant differences exist between nutrition and non-nutrition students. Attitudes toward organic food and knowledge score significantly impact the consumption patterns and willingness to pay for organic food (p = < 0.0001). Most students indicated that they were willing to pay a premium for organic food and had positive associations with it.
Originality/value
This is the first study relating to this topic and the Canadian population. Results from this study provide baseline data that may be used to conduct future research.
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Irma Tikkanen and Antero Kasurinen
This paper aims to describe the development process of two organic and local food breakfasts to be served in a small and independent coffee shop in Finland.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the development process of two organic and local food breakfasts to be served in a small and independent coffee shop in Finland.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual framework is established concerning corporate social responsibility (CSR) and new product development process. Previous research related to organic food, local food, and breakfasts is introduced. Action research is applied.
Findings
Two organic and local food breakfasts were developed as a process and sold during eight months in the case coffee shop. The process comprised nine stages. The components for the two breakfasts were received from nine suppliers.
Practical implications
The practical implications on the case coffee shop are that the customers' requests on organic and local food breakfasts were met; the coffee shop improved its sales and profits; and the service concept was moved into a more sustainable direction. The implications on the local society are that the sales of organic and local food producers increased and their employment improved.
Originality/value
Two organic and local food breakfasts were developed based on the product development process. The developed breakfasts can be used as a reference model in coffee shops, in restaurants, and in teaching.
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Paola Migliorini, Alexander Wezel, Eve Veromann, Carola Strassner, Dominika Średnicka-Tober, Johannes Kahl, Susanne Bügel, Teresa Briz, Renata Kazimierczak, Hélène Brives, Angelika Ploeger, Ute Gilles, Vanessa Lüder, Olesa Schleicher-Deis, Natalia Rastorgueva, Fabio Tuccillo, Liina Talgre, Tanel Kaart, Diana Ismael and Ewa Rembiałkowska
To clarify needs and requests of the young generation to the contemporary and future education on food systems, this paper aims to examine the following issues: students’…
Abstract
Purpose
To clarify needs and requests of the young generation to the contemporary and future education on food systems, this paper aims to examine the following issues: students’ background knowledge, students’ behaviour as consumers and food citizenship, most interesting topics of SFS for students and students’ preferences and expectations in developing different skills, topics and preferences in teaching/learning methods.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was performed as an online-survey amongst eight European Universities in seven European Union (EU) countries to which 1,122 students responded. Data was analysed with descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses.
Findings
Taste and Health are the most important values and motives that influence students’ food buying and consumption decisions, but significant differences were found amongst students from different universities and countries. The most important topics for students for future teaching courses are “organic food”, “fair trade”, “organic agriculture” and most important skills to learn are “ability to make a judgement and justify decisions” and the “ability to create and innovate”. Excursions and field trips as teaching methods was given the highest ranks.
Research limitations/implications
Different study programmes and cultural backgrounds of the participating students in the different universities could be a limiting factor for the interpretation of some results.
Originality/value
These results provide a basis for improvement of higher education in the EU towards sustainable food systems based on experiential learning/teaching methods.
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Katrin Zander, Susanne Padel and Raffaele Zanoli
With the introduction of the mandatory European Union (EU) organic logo for all organic food products in 2010, the European Commission aimed at fostering the internal organic food…
Abstract
Purpose
With the introduction of the mandatory European Union (EU) organic logo for all organic food products in 2010, the European Commission aimed at fostering the internal organic food market. This needs consumers’ knowledge of the logo. According to earlier research consumers’ knowledge of the EU organic logo is low. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to elicit consumers’ attitudes towards organic certification and labelling and to develop recommendations on how to improve consumers’ knowledge of the EU organic logo.
Design/methodology/approach
By means of an online survey with 3,000 participants in six European countries, knowledge of the logo and attitudes towards organic farming and European labelling, as well as organic food purchase behaviour and socio-demographic indicators were elicited. Factor and cluster analysis based on several statements on the test persons’ attitudes towards organic farming and corresponding EU legislation were conducted in order to segment consumers.
Findings
The results indicate that knowledge of the logo is low. Only about 15 per cent of all respondents knew its meaning. Four clusters of consumers could be identified: “Committed organics”, “Pragmatic organics”, “Organic sceptics” and Organic disinterested’. With reference to the EU organic legislation’s aim of promoting the organic market, particularly “Organic sceptics” should be addressed by emphasising the trustworthiness of the organic certification and labelling system.
Originality/value
Segmenting consumers according to their attitude towards organic farming, its labelling and certification allows for targeted and efficient communication and organic market development.
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Sustainable consumption is increasingly on the policy menu, and local organic food has been widely advocated as a practical tool to make changes to conventional production and…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainable consumption is increasingly on the policy menu, and local organic food has been widely advocated as a practical tool to make changes to conventional production and consumption systems. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of community‐based initiatives at achieving sustainable consumption objectives.
Design/methodology/approach
A new multi‐criteria evaluation tool is developed, from New Economics theory, to assess the effectiveness of initiatives at achieving sustainable consumption. The key indicators are: localisation, reducing ecological footprints, community building, collective action and creating new socio‐economic institutions. This evaluation framework is applied to an organic producer cooperative in Norfolk, UK, using a mixed‐method approach comprising site visits, semi‐structured interviews and a customer survey.
Findings
The initiative was effective at achieving sustainable consumption in each of the dimensions of the appraisal tool, but nevertheless faced a number of barriers to achieving its potential.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could examine the sustainability preferences of non‐consumers of local or organic food, to compare responses and assess the scope for scaling up initiatives like this.
Practical implications
Ways forward for community‐based sustainable consumption are discussed, together with policy recommendations. Community‐based initiatives such as the local organic food network examined here should be supported to offer a diversity of local action.
Originality/value
This paper presents the first empirical evaluation of a local organic food network as a tool for sustainable consumption. It makes a timely and original contribution on environmental governance and the role of new institutions which enable consumers to change their consumption patterns. It is of interest to academics, practitioners and policymakers concerned with sustainable development.
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Organic food represents the fastest growing sector in the food market, with outstanding performance in both production and sales. However, existing studies on organic food have…
Abstract
Purpose
Organic food represents the fastest growing sector in the food market, with outstanding performance in both production and sales. However, existing studies on organic food have lacked a strong theoretical foundation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships among purchase intention and the properties, certification mechanisms, retail channels, and prices of organic food from multiple theoretical perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a rigorous sampling design, 507 valid questionnaires collected from consumers at four well-known organic food markets, and the hypotheses were tested based on a linear structural equation model.
Findings
The results of the structural equation model analysis showed the following: consumer attitudes toward organic food labeling/certification institutions had a positive impact on the trust in food labeling; channel dependence positively influenced the relational embeddedness in a channel; the effect of the nutritional value of organic food on environmental protection also had a positive impact on attitudes toward organic foods; attitudes toward trust in the organic label, relational embeddedness in a channel, and attitudes toward organic foods had a positive impact on consumer purchase intentions; and in relation to low-price scenarios, consumers required more confidence to purchase higher-priced goods, meaning that the relational embeddedness in a channel exerted more influence on purchase intentions. By contrast, compared to the high-price scenarios, consumers tended to choose lower priced goods based on personal preferences, e.g., making the purchase decision based on trust in the organic label and attitudes toward organic food.
Originality/value
The contributions of this study include the following: the relationships among the variables were investigated comprehensively from multiple theoretical perspectives; and the results can help the government and the organic food industry to understand their respective responsibilities in promoting organic food to reduce the waste of resources, in which the government can provide basic information on organic food, e.g., a certification mechanism and related definitions, while the organic food industry provides specific knowledge about organic foods, e.g., product features.
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Maria Frostling-Henningsson, Martin Hedbom and Ludvig Wilandh
This research paper focuses on why intentions to buy organic and/or eco-friendly food are not always manifested in practice. Based on Warde's antinomies of structural opposition…
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper focuses on why intentions to buy organic and/or eco-friendly food are not always manifested in practice. Based on Warde's antinomies of structural opposition, we found several consumer dilemmas including the dilemma of choosing between organic and eco-friendly food. This study addresses ethical and environmental concerns that contemporary Swedish consumers have when eating organic and taking environmental action and presents some consumer strategies used to cope with these concerns.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data was collected from a consumer panel followed during 18 months. A mix of qualitative methods was used; interviews, shop-along studies, ZMET, collecting shopping receipts and poems.
Findings
The research paper contributes with knowledge about the dilemma between organic and eco-friendly. It further defines the strategy of “justification of non-choices” as the most common consumer strategy to cope with the dilemma.
Research limitations/implications
Results from this study shows that conscious consumers often face a conflict between buying organic food and taking environmental considerations. In order to solve the conflict consumers used various strategies; justification of non-choices was the most common strategy.
Practical implications
For wholesalers and retailers the results show that conscious consumers demands groceries that are both organic and eco-friendly in order to act on intentions.
Originality/value
By using innovative qualitative methods this report identifies some contemporary consumer dilemmas. The dilemma that the most conscious consumers have is the dilemma between organic and eco-friendly. In order to solve this “justification of non-choices” is the most common strategy for consumers to handle the dilemma.
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