Integrating Factors Influencing Consumers’ Halal Products Purchase: Application of Theory of Reasoned Action

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to determine Muslim consumers’ purchase perceptions of Halal products in Pakistan. The research team has integrated different factors such as processing, Halal logo, ingredients, health consciousness, perceived value, food safety concern, and religious factor with Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and they investigated their influence on consumers’ attitudes and intentions to purchase Halal food products. A survey was conducted in Islamabad and Rawalpindi city, Pakistan. A total of 282 (56.4%) completed questionnaires were received from 500 respondents. Structural equation modeling technique was used to determine consumers’ purchase intention and behavior regarding Halal products. Except for health consciousness and Halal logo, all factors positively influence consumers’ attitude and purchase intention of Halal food products and, subsequently, their purchase behavior.     

胆固醇认知对城镇居民鸡蛋食用量的影响

目的 鸡蛋胆固醇与身体健康问题是人们关注的焦点,直接关系到人们的鸡蛋食用量。方法 文章基于消费者视角,根据实地调研数据,采用分位数回归方法实证分析了胆固醇认知对城镇居民鸡蛋食用量的影响。结果 （1）城镇居民基本上实现了每人每日食用一枚鸡蛋,与鸡蛋实际食用量相比,调研到的样本目前还未达到认为合理的食用量。超过2/3的样本认为食用鸡蛋会导致胆固醇摄入量增加,从而会影响人体健康。（2）经模型验证,胆固醇认知对城镇居民鸡蛋食用量具有显著的负向影响,说明城镇居民为了身体健康以及减少胆固醇摄入量,会有意减少鸡蛋食用量,而且城镇居民鸡蛋胆固醇的负面认知更容易促使其鸡蛋食用量控制在自认为合理的范围以内。结论 基于此,该文结合胆固醇认知等对城镇居民鸡蛋食用量具有显著影响的变量,提出了引导消费者科学购买及食用鸡蛋的对策建议。     

Individual and Situational Determinants of U.S. Consumers’ Buying Behavior of Organic Foods

ABSTRACT

The current study expands on previous research by examining a more comprehensive set of factors that influence consumers’ buying behavior of organic foods. This study focuses on individual and situational factors associated with attitudes and intentions to buy organic foods, which subsequently lead to organic food-buying behavior. Health and environmental consciousness were found to be individual factors that significantly influenced attitudes toward buying organic foods, whereas children’s age and perceived convenience of purchase were recognized as strong situational factors that determined intentions to buy organic foods.     

Characteristics of a Unique Market Segment

Modified grocery shopping and consumption behaviors have been recent outcomes of consumers' changing attitudes toward food and nutrition. This article identifies a unique segment important to grocery retailers- shoppers who purchase and consume greater varieties of fresh fruit. These consumers are shown to differ from other consumers in their food shopping and preparation attitudes, fruit and grocery expenditures, and their demographics. Opportunities for adapting fresh fruit product offerings, promotions, and services to this segment are explored.     

基于行为特征因素及情境因素的消费者安全认证猪肉购买路径分析——来自华东地区12市的微观调查

本研究从影响消费者对安全认证猪肉的购买意愿以及消费者购买意愿—行为差距的内外部因素出发,综合计划行为理论、感知价值理论和情境效应理论构建消费者购买决策模型。基于华东地区江苏省和安徽省844个样本的调查数据,本文采用结构方程模型深入挖掘影响消费者对安全认证猪肉购买意愿与购买行为的主要因素。结果表明:消费者行为特征因素对消费者的购买意愿存在显著影响。在安全认证猪肉消费领域存在购买意愿与购买行为不一致的现象,消费者情境因素(感知行为控制)和环境情境因素在购买意愿向购买行为转化的过程中发挥着重要的调节作用。安全认证猪肉的合理定价以及安全健康生活理念的宣传推广不容忽视。     

Assessing the Contribution of Attitudinal Variables in International Models of Food Consumption

Abstract

This study compares the predictive ability of attitudinal variables with that of demographic variables in an international context. Using hierarchical regression analysis, the contribution of attitudinal variables to five models of food purchase behavior in urban China is evaluated. The results of the study indicate that, in some circumstances, multinational firms might opt to omit attitudinal measures in international consumer studies. Analysis of variance techniques are then used to examine the relationship between key demographic variables and food purchase behaviors.     

Factors Affecting the Extent to which Consumers Incorporate Functional Ingredients into their Diets

This study considers the factors that explain the consumption of food and beverages with functional ingredients to avert or offset health problems. We use an instrumental variables Poisson regression model to deal with the endogeneity of perceived health status in functional ingredient use. The first stage results indicate that perceived health status is associated with attitude towards functional foods, food consumption motives and information seeking and being female. The second stage results suggest that individuals who consume more functional ingredients tend to have a positive attitude towards functional foods, are novelty‐seeking, female and older. As expected, consumption of functional ingredients is more likely when consumers’ self‐reports indicate that they are aware of functional foods’ nutritional value and the link with their own health. Consistent with previous research, most of the socio‐demographics are poor predictors of functional ingredient consumption.     

基于消费者购买意愿的绿色农产品供应链模式创新研究

当下食品安全问题正成为危害消费者身心健康的重要因素,购买绿色健康的食品逐渐成为广大消费者的追求,基于南京市民绿色农产品购买意愿的问卷调查数据和实地走访数据,采用计划行为理论来探讨消费者绿色农产品购买意向的影响因素,从行为态度、主观规范和知觉行为控制这三个角度,通过实证分析甄别影响因素,得出影响消费者购买意愿的主要是行为态度和主观规范这两个因素的结论,针对影响因素从农产品供应链角度,提出了优化完善供应链模式的对策建议。     

绿色消费态度对森林认证产品消费行为的影响研究

基于计划行为理论,从绿色消费态度视角出发,运用结构方程模型研究消费者对森林认证产品的消费行为机制。结果表明:消费者的消费态度正向影响消费者对森林认证产品消费的主观规范和感知行为控制;消费者对森林认证产品消费的主观规范正向影响消费者的消费行为意向,且在消费态度与行为意向之间起完全中介作用;消费者对森林认证产品消费的感知行为控制正向影响消费者的消费行为意向,且在消费态度与行为意向之间起完全中介作用;消费者对森林认证产品消费的行为意向正向影响消费者的消费行为。由此提出利用网络平台促进与消费者的交流、提高消费者对森林认证产品的主观规范等建议。     

Segmenting Irish Food Consumers Using the Food-Related Lifestyle Instrument

Abstract

This paper reports on the food-related lifestyle (FRL) segments identified in Ireland, based on a nationally representative sample of one thousand households. The objectives are to use the food-related lifestyle instrument developed by the Centre for research on customer relations in the food sector in Denmark (MAPP) to segment Irish food consumers based on attitudes towards the purchase, preparation and consumption of food products and to profile these segments by attitudes and socio-demographic variables. The sixty nine FRL items were scored and scale reliability tested. The structure of the FRL dimensions was tested with exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis and varimax rotation. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) using Wards method was employed for market segmentation. Profiles of the clusters (segments) were achieved by comparing the mean scores on the dimensions for each segment with the population mean scores on the same dimensions.

Six distinct food-related lifestyle segments were identified. The hedonistic segment, representing 28 percent of consumers was the largest group, followed by conservative consumers (21%), extremely uninvolved consumers (16%), enthusiastic consumers (14%), moderate consumers (13%) and adventurous consumers (8%). The segments were found to have different attitudes towards food and different socio-demographic profiles.     

Household behavior with respect to meat consumption in the presence of BSE and CWD

In this study, Canadian household meat consumption behavior in exotic (deer and elk meat) and traditional meats (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, bison, and seafood) is examined. This research introduces some differences in public response to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) risks across consumer segments from different sources of meat supply, including hunted meat. The analysis uses a combination of survey and household meat purchase data that include a balanced household panel of 2,393 households per year across time. A two-step estimation procedure is used with a probit model in the first step (consume or not) and a doublelog–translog two-stage demand system in the second step (level of consumption). It is assumed and tested that household sociodemographics, consumers’ risk perceptions/attitudes, and media coverage of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and chronic wasting disease (CWD) are underlying demand shifters in consumers’ daily meat purchase decision. The results suggest that households who obtain venison from hunting show the highest confidence in venison safety. Exotic meat preferences negatively affect traditional meat consumption in the daily diets of households who purchase traditional meats from stores and obtain venison from hunting. In response to the media coverage of BSE and CWD, exotic meat eaters are less sensitive to animal disease media information than the general population.     

绿色农产品消费行为影响因素分析及行为调查

绿色农产品供给是适应消费升级的一个重要路径,是农产品高质量提升的一个重要形态.中国农业资源产出有限且各类消费品都面临消费升级压力,探讨绿色农产品的消费行为影响因素对优化绿色农产品供给、提升农产品供给质量、增加消费有积极意义.通过影响区域绿色农产品消费的因素识别,以消费者购买决策的过程关键变量调查研究对象,通过经济欠发达...     

Green Food Consumption in China: Segmentation Based on Attitudes Toward Food Safety

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this report are twofold: to examine the demographic factors that drive demand for green food and to segment Chinese consumers based on their attitudes toward food safety. An online survey was used to collect consumer behavior information. A total of 402 responses were obtained covering participants who lived in 24 provinces and municipalities in China. Probit modeling, analysis of variance, and cluster analysis are used. Income, education, age, gender, presence of young children, household size, and overseas experience are variables that have an impact on green food purchase. Young, wealthy men, who have young children and live in a small household, are likely to buy green food. The survey shows that Chinese consumers are willing to pay a price premium for green food; however, price will be a major factor restricting the growth of the green food label in China, given market prices. Three segments―the “distrustful consumer,” the “ambivalent consumer,” and the “trusting consumer”―are identified for market segmentation purposes.     

消费者对偏远地区特色农产品的购买行为及其影响因素研究——基于2 027个消费者样本数据的考察

目的 准确把握偏远地区特色农产品市场的需求特点和消费规律,对于偏远农村地区持续巩固脱贫攻坚成果、进一步实现乡村振兴意义深远。方法 文章基于2 027位消费者问卷调查数据,建立二元 Logistic模型分析偏远地区特色农产品消费的影响因素。结果 （1）家庭成员结构、职业、收入水平对偏远地区特色农产品购买行为具有显著影响;（2）购买动机、购买渠道、获取农产品供给信息的途径对偏远地区特色农产品购买行为具有显著影响;（3）农贸市场变量与溢价支付意愿呈正向显著关系,线下仍然是消费者选购农产品的主要渠道;（4）种植与营销供给质量对消费者农产品购买行为具有显著影响。结论 该文提出了偏远地区加大绿色和有机特色农产品种植,优化传统农产品市场批发流通网络,不断提升偏远地区特色农产品知名度和美誉度等政策建议。     

Consumer preferences for GM food and other attributes of the food system

While qualitative surveys regarding consumers' attitudes about gene technologies and their application to food production are plentiful, quantitative studies are less so. The present paper reports choice modelling methods to examine the conditions under which Australian consumers are willing to purchase genetically modified (GM) foods, if at all, and examines those preferences within the context of the food system as a whole. This allows us to compare consumer attitudes towards gene technology to consumer preferences for other features of the food they consume. The results of the choice modelling analysis suggest consumers require a discount on their weekly food bill before they will purchase GM food. Gene technology using animal as well as plant genes was found to be more objectionable to respondents than that using plant genes alone, especially among women. Age seems to affect the preferences for a certain type of food, with older people generally more accepting of the use of gene technology.     

Risk preferences of commodity crop producers and specialty crop producers: An application of prospect theory

Producers’ decisions, such as crop insurance, contract agreement, and technology adoption, involve considerable risk and uncertainty. Particularly, specialty crop production is more vulnerable to risk and requires more intensive management than commodity crop production, while risk mitigation tools for specialty crop production are comparatively limited. We apply Prospect Theory (PT) to analyze risk preferences of U.S. producers, and further compare the preference differences between commodity crop and specialty crop producers. Reference dependent, diminishing sensitivity, loss aversion, and probability weighting, as well as certain farm characteristics and producer demographics, are found to have a significant impact on grower risk attitudes. In addition, we do not observe significant differences in the base PT estimates between commodity crop and specialty crop producers. However, the relationships between risk behavior and individual characteristics vary between the two types of producers, which shed lights on the development of agricultural policies and provide implications for the design of contract and insurance.     

Consumer Behavior Toward Eco-Labeled Minimally Processed Fruit Product

The authors proposed an analysis of the determinants of purchase intentions and willingness to pay for minimally processed fruit. For this purpose, on-field research was conducted that involved 589 consumers. A questionnaire, gathered in Italy and based on a Likert scale, was administered to investigate intentions to purchase minimally processed fruit from environmentally sustainable farms, simulating a minimally processed product with an eco-label. Via structural equation modeling, the authors develop propositions representing a theoretical approach in the context of purchasing food products. By analyzing two different types of consciousness (health and green), the deduced managerial implications make it possible to assess that the green consciousness influences the attitude and affects the choices and behaviors of consumers. The potential adoption of an eco-label on this kind of food product could be seen as a useful marketing tool for new markets.     

Organic‐ and Animal Welfare‐labelled Eggs: Competing for the Same Consumers?

To understand the market for sustainable foods, it is important to allow for heterogeneous preferences. However, most studies of consumer preferences for sustainable foods only investigate average consumer preferences. They do not take into account that some consumer segments attempt to purchase as much sustainable food as possible, others are almost indifferent to the notion of sustainable food, and still others consider sustainable food a complete hoax. The aim of this study is to explore the preferences for various types of premium eggs across three consumer segments. We conduct a choice experiment including 900 Norwegian consumers and perform a behavioural segmentation based on the frequency of organic food purchase. We find that the segment purchasing the most organic food is, as expected, willing to pay a significant premium for organic eggs over eggs displaying only enhanced animal welfare. However, most consumers, who only occasionally purchase organic products, are unwilling to pay more for organic eggs than for enhanced animal welfare eggs, suggesting diminishing marginal utility for additional attributes. We find that a third consumer segment attempts to avoid organic eggs, even when they cost the same as other eggs. Our findings suggest that organic products will be unsuccessful in acquiring a larger share of the market as long as most consumers are unwilling to pay a premium for organic products with all their cost increasing sustainable attributes over products that have only a single sustainable attribute, in our case enhanced animal welfare.     

Fluid milk consumption in urban Qingdao,China*

This study relates the social‐demographic characteristics of urban Chinese consumers to their consumption of fluid milk. A Tobit model is estimated drawing on individual consumer survey data collected in urban Qingdao in China in 2005. The major results of this study indicate that fluid milk consumption in urban Qingdao is much higher compared to China's national level. The effect of increased income on milk consumption is positive, as expected. The expansion of modern food retailers also appears to play a positive role by facilitating consumers’ fluid milk consumption and influencing their food shopping patterns. The young and old consume significantly more fluid milk than the middle‐aged. Health consciousness of the elderly and the openness of youth to new foods appear to be fuelling these consumption patterns. If the findings of this study apply to other urban regions in China, then as urbanisation continues so also will the trend of increasing fluid milk consumption in China.