FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMER SELECTION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF BEEF IN CENTRAL ALBERTA

Beef, pork, poultry, and fish were relatively widely consumed, while lamb and veal were consumed on a regular basis by a relatively small proportion of the respondents in this investigation. Pork was more widely consumed by younger respondents (under 50 years), while a large proportion of older respondents regularly consumed lamb and veal. Number of per capita servings of most kinds of meat and of beef steaks and roasts appeared to increase with age of adult household members. Older respondents (over 50 years) consumed more per capita servings of the higher priced beef cuts, but similar amounts of the cheaper beef cuts. A larger proportion of younger respondents (under 35 years) either did not know or failed to ascertain the grade of beef regularly purchased, while a larger proportion of the older respondents (over 35 years) believed they were purchasing steer beef in preference to heifer beef. Colour, price and lean-to-fat ratio were the most widely used criteria for selection of steak and roast purchases, but colour and price were not as widely considered by respondents in the mid-age groups (25–50 years). Marbling increased in importance as a selection criterion with age of respondent. Respondents in the mid-age groups considered grade and butcher recommendations most often when selecting beef purchases. Respondents in all age groups considered tenderness and flavour most important to the acceptability of steaks and roasts, after purchase, but colour and lean-to-fat ratio were also relatively important to older respondents (over 50 years). Documentation of consumption patterns, selection criteria, and factors contributing to acceptability in various geographical areas is important, so that industry can modify production, processing, and handling practices to better satisfy consumer requirements and desires.     

Children's influences on in-store purchases

Relatively little is known about the influence children have on their parents’ purchases in a retail setting. This study investigates which factors affect children's purchase requests and their parents’ subsequent purchases. It was found that factors influencing the number of children's purchase requests were the freedom of a child's movements, the product's visibility, and the child's developmental stage. The latter variable together with the suitability of the good for consumption on the premises, the linguistic form of child's request, the parent's household income, and the price of the good determine the number of purchases following a child's request.     

Consumer Buying Behavior of Genetically Modified Fries in Germany

A purchasing experiment in which genetically modified and conventional fries were offered for sale at mobile fast food stands in Germany was conducted to identify factors influencing the willingness of consumers to purchase genetically modified fries. In total, 331 purchasing decisions were made: 56.5% decided to purchase conventional fries, 22.4% genetically modified fries, and 21.1% no preference. A logistic regression model analyzing questionnaires found that worry about pesticides, frequency of organic food purchases, the acceptability of genetically modified foods with environmental benefits, and perceptions of health risks from genetically modified foods significantly impact the willingness to purchase genetically modified fries.     

Meat labels: consumer attitude and meat consumption pattern

This paper addressed consumers’ attitude towards food labels and the influence of different aspects of meat labels on beef, poultry and seafood consumption using data from a national survey in the USA. Approximately 70% of the respondents reported that food labels helped in the purchases of beef and other meat products. While 50% thought that the present level of information on meat labels was about right, about 30% thought that it was insufficient. Similarly, 80, 81, 60, and 80% of the respondents thought that it was very important that meat labels contain information regarding nutrition, ingredients, health claim, and production process respectively. Those respondents who thought that nutrition and ingredient information on food labels were very important also thought that meat labels helped them select beef and other meat products. Consumer preferences for nutrition and ingredient information on food labels were positively related with meat consumption frequency.     

Consumer value conflicts surrounding ethical food purchase decisions: a focus on animal welfare

Ethical attitudes in relation to meat purchases were studied among urban and rural consumers in Scotland. All subjects perceived at least some ethical issues in relation to animal production systems, in particular, systems keeping animals in close confinement. Welfare‐friendly production systems were viewed as adding value to a food, but this value was not necessarily realizable to producers if purchases occurred only when foods were on special offer. Statements made by individuals were often contradictory, revealing ambivalence, unresolved value conflicts and a general lack of involvement in the nature of meat production. A number of barriers to the establishment of stable attitudes and behaviours in relation to the ethical treatment of food animals were also identified. A key finding of the study is that individuals can hold two views on animal welfare. On the one hand, they may think as citizens influencing societal standards, and on the other, as consumers at the point of purchase. As citizens, they support the notion of animals being entitled to a good life; as meat consumers, they avoid the cognitive connection with the live animal. This paper explores both the citizen–consumer relationship and purchase strategies used by consumers to resolve value conflicts. Lessons for public and commercial policy are highlighted in the context of the Curry Report (2002) which advocates more effective market segmentation where markets are finely attuned to their customers, with the development of a number of assurance schemes discussed in the article.     

A Comparative Assessment of Consumer and Non-Consumer Preference for Beef Cuts Consumption in Malaysia

Malaysia is currently enjoying an economic revival, resulting in a rising per capita income and an increasing urban population. There are consumers whose taste buds have become more accustomed to international cuisines, including meaty Western food, to satisfy their quest for diversity in their new lifestyles. This group of consumers in Malaysia plays an important role in shaping the rising trend in the consumption of meat products, and this changing attitude calls for empirical research to clarify factors shaping it. The results also indicate that there are three factors (attributes of beef cuts, quality and safety, and the variety of Malaysian dishes) that greatly influence the preference for beef consumers toward their consumption of beef cuts. It was also determined that four factors that influenced the preference for non-beef consumers are price of beef cuts, lifestyle, risk associated with beef cuts consumption, taste, and preferences influencing non-beef consumers.     

How Purchase Type Influences Consumption-Related Posting Behavior on Social Media: The Moderating Role of Materialism

It is now common to see consumers post their own purchases on social media to communicate feelings and/or thoughts about the consumption items to their social media audience. The authors conducted two surveys with a student sample and an Amazon MTurk sample to investigate factors leading to such behavior. The results show that purchase type predicts the consumption-related posting behavior—experiential purchases are more likely to get posted than material purchases, and materialism serves as a moderator in the influence of purchase type on the posting behavior. Specifically, lower-materialism consumers are more likely to post experiential purchases on social media than material purchases, while higher-materialism consumers do not show such a pattern. This article pioneers in investigating consumption-related posting behavior and provides important implications to research on user-generated content, materialism, and purchase type.     

Assessing the demand for value‐based organic meats in Canada: a combined retail and household scanner‐data approach

We apply sets of weekly retail and household scanner data to estimate consumer demand of selected organic and conventional fresh beef products in the Canadian retail market. The main contribution of our study stems from the application of a two‐stage procedure that provides new and deeper insight into consumers' responses to changing retail environment and pricing for organic and conventional meat products. Combined knowledge of point‐of‐sale consumer behaviour for value‐based products, such as organic products, and distinct socio‐demographic profiles of buyers vs. non‐buyers of meat is especially interesting for retail managers and meat industry stakeholders. First, household meat consumption patterns are investigated based on household scanner data that track household's meat purchases in the period 2006–2007. The second step of analysis then involves the estimation of an almost ideal demand system for selected organic and conventional fresh beef products using retail scanner data for the period 2000–2007. The introduction of greater selections in organic product lines across mainstream supermarkets in Canada in response to consumer health concerns is expected to spur retail competition in an otherwise saturated Canadian retail market. The analysis of socio‐demographic profiles in beef consumption using individual household's purchase data reveals that besides regional differences in preferences, household size and resource characteristics are major determinants of point‐of‐sale beef purchase decisions. Our demand system results indicate that organic beef is highly dependent on price and expenditures, whereas demand for conventional beef is mostly driven by income, habits and ‘typical’ Canadian seasonal beef consumption patterns. Altogether, our conclusions on organic beef vs. conventional beef buyers may have further implications for institutional regulations.     

DIMENSIONS OF SATISFACTION WITH PURCHASES OF WOMEN'S DRESSES: BEFORE AND AFTER GARMENT CARE

The purpose of this research was to assess the appropriateness of grouping evaluative criteria used by women in their dress purchases according to instrumental, expressive, and market aspects. Respondents from a random telephone sample were divided into two groups, ‘Care’ and ‘Nocare’, according to whether or not the consumers had cared for (washed or cleaned) their dresses at the time satisfaction was measured. For both groups, factors were generated which were representative of the three aspects of evaluative criteria proposed. The factors reflected expressive, price, selection/size, and performance dimensions of clothing satisfaction. Hence, in analysing clothing satisfaction, researchers must recognize that several functions are served by clothing and reflect these in the research methodology.     

Impact of perceived value on the online purchase intention of base of the pyramid consumers

Despite the voluminous purchasing power of the consumers at the base of the pyramid (BOP), substantial research has not been carried out on their online buying behaviour. This study investigates the factors that trigger the online shopping intention of BOP consumers. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 52 BOP respondents from India. Our thematic analysis indicates four perceived benefits and five sacrifices influencing BOP consumers' perceived value for online purchases, subsequently determining their adoption behaviour. As a novel contribution to the literature, this study unfolds several unknown factors that motivate/demotivate BOP consumers to buy online using the Value-based Adoption Model (VAM). The findings of this study will help e-commerce marketers enhance BOP consumers' usage intention toward online purchases.     

Do Consumers Care About Ethical-Luxury?

This article explores the extent to which consumers consider ethics in luxury goods consumption. In particular, it explores whether there is a significant difference between consumers’ propensity to consider ethics in luxury versus commodity purchase and whether consumers are ready to purchase ethical-luxury. Prior research in ethical consumption focuses on low value, commoditized product categories such as food, cosmetics and high street apparel. It is debatable if consumers follow similar ethical consumption patterns in luxury purchases. Findings indicate that consumers’ propensity to consider ethics is significantly lower in luxury purchases when compared to commoditized purchases and explores some of the potential reasons for this reduced propensity to identify or act upon ethical issues in luxury consumption.     

影响零售业态选择和发展的主要因素

零售业态是零售企业的经营形态。经济水平的发展、消费需求的变化、竞争的加剧、管理的科学化和零售业态本身的发展规律的综合作用,导致主导零售业态在不断更替。国内外零售业态的调整与创新,引起了我们对影响零售业态选择和发展的主要因素的思考。     

Varieties of Environmental Labelling, Market Structures, and Sustainable Consumption Across Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Organizational and Market Supply Determinants of Environmental-Labelled Goods

The purchase of environmental-labelled goods is an important dimension of sustainable consumption. Existing research on environmental labels and sustainable consumption has a rather individualistic bias. Organizational and structural determinants have only recently sparked attention. In this paper, a comparative framework is used to analyse the impact of organizational varieties of environmental labelling and market supply characteristics on purchases of environmental-labelled goods in 18 European countries. Focusing on labels for organic food and ecological durables, the plurality of existing labels as well as state involvement into labelling are used as the central dimensions constituting the organizational varieties. Market structures refer to the supply of labelled goods and the dominant retailing channels that make up the infrastructure for this dimension of sustainable consumption. After giving an overview on the underlying theoretical mechanisms of the main determinants, country differences in the organization of environmental labelling as well as the market structures are outlined. To analyse the effect of these differences, individual level data of a 2007 Eurobarometer survey on purchases of environmental-labelled goods is combined with organizational and market structural indicators. Using random intercept regression models and controlling for individual socio-economic and aggregate market demand-side factors, like average per capita income, share of post-materialists, and level of generalized trust, only the market supply and retailing structure reveal a robust effect on individual purchases of environmental friendly labelled goods.     

Factors Influencing Consumption of New Food Products and Specialty Meat

Results from a consumer survey of households in Louisiana and Texas suggest that socioeconomic factors affect consumption decisions on new food products, quail, alligator, or deer meat. Specifically, consumption of, or interest in consuming new food products are statistically associated with marital status, age, education, household size and income, race, religon, and occupation. The above-referenced socio-economic characteristics are all statistically associated with consumption decisions on qualiy and alligator meat, except for marital status and household size. Race and occupation are statistically associated with the consumption of, or interest in consuming deer meat.     

Value conflicts in food ethics – causes and possible resolutions

Ethical attitudes in relation to meat purchases were studied among urban and rural consumers in Scotland. All subjects perceived at least some ethical issues in relation to animal production systems, in particular, systems keeping animals in close confinement. Welfare friendly production systems were viewed as adding value to a food, but this value was not necessarily realisable to producers if purchases occurred only when foods were on special offer. Statements made by a particular individual were often contradictory, revealing ambivalence, unresolved value conflicts and a general lack of involvement in the nature of meat production. A number of barriers to the establishment of stable attitudes and behaviours in relation to the ethical treatment of food animals were identified, including a lack of transparency of competing production systems, problems with product availability and a general aversion to confront animal production. Whilst adequate labelling implies that labels are transparent and revealing all the essential features of a food, this is not the case with most farm assurance quality marks. Free‐range chicken may be widely available as a complete carcass, but portions often are not. Attitude‐inconsistent purchasing behaviours were thereby related to a lack of perceived control on the part of the purchaser in certain food choice scenarios. A key finding of the study is that individuals can hold two views on animal welfare. On the one hand, they may think as citizens influencing societal standards, and on the other, as consumers at the point of purchase. As citizens, they support the notion of animals being entitled to a good life, as meat consumers, they avoid the mental connection with the live animal. The paper explores this citizen/consumer relationship and strategies used by consumers to resolve any resultant value conflicts. Lessons for public and commercial policy are highlighted in the context of the Curry Report (2002), which advocates more effective market segmentation where markets are finely attuned to their customers, with the development of higher‐level assurance schemes based on the existing ‘Little Red Tractor’ standard.     

城乡老年人医疗消费行为及其影响因素分析——以泰州市海陵区为例

论文为了了解影响老年人医疗消费行为的多层次原因,并据此对老年人医疗消费改善提供针对性的建议,随机抽取泰州市海陵区416名常住老年人,进行医疗消费行为及影响因素的调查,同时采用SPSS软件进行描述分析、卡方检验等分析。结果显示,泰州市海陵区老年人去医疗机构就诊占60.6%,去药店买药占34.4%,先不治疗占5%。卡方检验结果显示影响因素主要有户籍、年龄、收入以及受教育水平、市场环境。因此,泰州市海陵区老年人医疗消费行为以去医疗机构就诊为主,医疗消费行为主要受户籍、年龄、收入、受教育水平等因素的影响。老年人的身体健康状况较差,患慢性病的老年人较多,对医疗保健的需求较大,应大力发展老年医疗服务行业,提高老年医疗资源的有效供给。     

Would you bring home ugly produce? Motivators and demotivators for ugly food consumption

It is important to reduce food waste by successfully promoting ugly food consumption. Thus, this study uses the food quality attribute model to investigate certain key factors - motivators and demotivators that can influence consumers’ attitudes toward and subsequent purchases of ugly produce. This study further examines differences in these key factors between ugly food buyers and non-buyers. The results indicate that price consciousness and environmental self-identity stimulate ugly food consumption, but physical appearance discourages its purchase. The influences of the motivators are more salient for buyers, while the influences of the demotivators are more salient for non-buyers.     

An empirical examination of the effects of design elements of email newsletters on consumers’ email responses and their purchase

In this research, we empirically explore the effects of various design elements of email newsletters on consumers' email responses and their purchases. We capture the consumers' email responses using three metrics, namely email open, email click, and email reopen. We operationalize consumers' purchases as their spending on product items that are featured in email newsletters. Using a novel email marketing database, first, we model the influence of design elements of email newsletter on consumers' email responses at the individual consumer level. The email design elements constitute several email attributes, situational factors, and integrated marketing communication. Second, we quantify the effects of these three email responses, open, click, and reopen, on consumers' purchases. Our empirical results suggest a significant influence of email attributes, situational factors, and marketing communications on consumers' email responses. Furthermore, among open, click, and reopen, we find clicks tend to have the highest impact on consumers’ purchase, followed by email reopening and opening. However, email newsletters with higher opening probability are more effective in influencing purchases than those email newsletters with higher reopening probability. Furthermore, consumers who indulge in all three email responses, namely opening, clicking, and reopening, tend to purchase the most. Results from our study offer several critical insights for email marketing strategy helping managers improving the effectiveness of email campaigns by careful consideration for the design elements of email newsletters.     

Financial Disclosure and Customer Satisfaction: Do Companies Talking the Talk Actually Walk the Walk?

Previous research demonstrates that consumers support firms’ CSR activities, and increasingly demand socially responsible products and services. However, an implicit assumption in the extant literature is that the purchaser and the consumer of the product are the same person. The current research focuses on a unique form of socially responsible consumption behavior: gift-giving. Through 30 depth consumer interviews, we develop a typology of consumers based on whether consumers integrate CSR-related information into purchases, and whether the purchases are for themselves or for others (i.e., gifts). We find that in some instances, consumers actively avoid purchasing products from socially responsible organizations and do so with the intention of managing their impressions with the gift recipient. This is counter to previous research that suggests consumers often choose to make socially responsible consumption decisions in efforts to satisfy self-presentation concerns. In addition, the decision to engage in socially responsible consumption for oneself but not for others was motivated by a variety of factors including the role of the recipient and a concern over the credibility of socially responsible gifts. Finally, some participants who do not incorporate CSR into their own personal consumption chose gifts based on a variety of CSR activities in an effort to build awareness for socially responsible organizations.     

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEAT PREFERENCES OF MALAWIANS

A questionnaire sent to 155 individuals was used to determine the meat preferences of families in three different socio-economic groups within the capital city of Malawi. Beef was the most strongly preferred meat, followed by chicken. When these two meats were unavailable differences between groups became apparent; high income families preferring pork and sheep, and low income families preferring goat, rabbit and ‘other’ meats. These results were influenced by the method of marketing of particular meats, but show that meat preferences of Malawians are different from those of individuals of Western European origin. Total meat production and consumption could be increased by an improvement in the production and marketing of goat meat; the second most popular species in farm holdings.