Cultural resistance to fast‐food consumption? A study of youth in North Eastern Thailand

Increased intake of saturated fat and refined sugars underlies much of the problem of emerging obesity all over the world. This includes middle-income countries like Thailand, which are subject to successful marketing of Western fast foods especially targeted at adolescents. In this study we explore the socio-cultural influences on fast-food intake for non-metropolitan (rural and urban) adolescents in North East Thailand (Isan). Our questionnaire sample included 634 persons aged 15-19 years who are in and out of formal schooling and who are randomly representing upper, central and lower Isan. All were asked about their knowledge of fast-food health risks and their attitudes towards, and consumption of, fast food and traditional food. As well, we used several focus groups to obtain qualitative data to complement the information derived from the questionnaire. Some three quarters of sampled youth were aware that fast food causes obesity and half knew of the link to heart disease. About half consumed fast food regularly, induced by the appeal of 'modern' lifestyles, social events and marketing, as well as by the convenience, speed and taste. Nearly two-thirds thought that local foods should be more popular and these beliefs were more likely to be found among children from educated and urban families. Local foods already constitute a cultural resistance to fast-food uptake. We propose several methods to boost this resistance and protect the youth of Thailand against fast food and its many adverse health consequences.     

Gender Differences in Service Quality Expectations in the Fast Food Industry

Abstract

Services marketers can influence the evaluation of service quality by “managing” customer expectations. Expectations can also provide insights into market segmentation strategies. Gender is often used as a segmentation variable since it is easily identifiable, accessible, and profitable. The purpose of this study was to examine if there are any gender-based differences in the expectations of service quality in the fast food industry. Hypotheses on gender differences in expectations were tested by an ANOVA, where the composite scores of each of the five dimensions of fast food service were used as dependent variables. The expectations of women were significantly higher than men in four of the five dimensions of fast food service quality.     

对中式快餐企业经营策略研究

随着我国经济的快速发展，快餐业有了广阔的发展前景。但中式快餐始终没有取得应有的经营成果，通过分析我国快餐企业存在的问题，对中式快餐未来的经营策略进行了探索。     

中西快餐业流程对比及中式快餐的再造对策

中式快餐企业由于起步晚,发展慢,不敌发展成熟、标准化程度高的西式快餐企业。如何改善中式快餐生产效率低、标准化程度低的问题,是当前的主要任务。为此,拟利用流程再造这门管理技术,通过分析、对比中西式快餐企业的业务流程,找出差距并提出相应的改造对策,望有助于推动中式快餐企业的高效化生产和标准化运作。     

我国快餐行业市场行为与市场绩效的实证研究

随着我国经济的增长,中国快餐业发展迅猛。分析我国快餐企业产品差异化行为,连锁经营行为以及整个快餐行业的市场绩效;并在此基础上运用多元统计的方法对我国快餐业市场行为对市场绩效的实现程度进行实证分析,使我国快餐企业市场行为合理化,积极发展中式快餐业。     

Do environmental attitudes and food technology neophobia affect perceptions of the benefits of nanotechnology?

In recent years, a significant amount of research has focussed on the analysis of consumers' aversion to new technologies in food production and processing. At the same time, research has shown that environmental attitudes may be related to purchasing behaviour of consumers. This paper presents the result of an investigation into Canadian attitudes towards nanotechnology, in general, and in applications in the food industry. The relationship between the food technology neophobia scale, environmental attitudes and nanotechnology is examined. The results suggest that food technology neophobia is significant in explaining attitudes towards nanotechnology, in general, and for food packaging and foods. Environmental attitudes are important in explaining respondents' attitudes towards nanotechnology in general but not in explaining attitudes towards nanotechnology in food packaging or food applications. Survey respondents' views of the role of science and technology in society (makes society worse or better off) are a more important determinant of attitudes towards nanotechnology than whether they had heard of nanotechnology prior to the survey.     

北京市中学生关于SARS的认识与反应的跟踪调查研究

2 0 0 3年 5月和 2 0 0 4年 1月 ,通过问卷跟踪调查方式对海淀区某居民小区的中学生有关SARS的认识和反应进行了研究 ,内容涉及中学生对SARS的了解程度及了解方式、关于预防SARS的知识和相应的行为变化等。中学生对SARS有一定的认识和了解 ;各大媒体在SARS期间对于宣传公共卫生知识起到了重要的作用 ;中学生群体目前对SARS仍旧有一定的恐惧心理 ;中学生注重卫生的程度因为SARS的远去而有所降低。加强公众对于流行疾病的基本认识 ,进一步改善其卫生习惯 ,仍然是我们需要面对的问题。     

Quality Feedback from Patrons in the Fast Food Industry

A major tenet of Total Quality Management (TQM) is quality provision from the customer's perspective. A common quality measurement technique used by restaurants of all types is the customer comment questionnaire. Available at the table, counter, or by request, the questionnaire attempts to provide feedback to management on the dining experience from the patron's viewpoint. This paper evaluates this popular feedback method through an analysis of current questionnaires in use in franchised fast food restaurants. comparisons are also made with other common feedback methods. Current practices are discussed, along with recommendations for improvements.     

Consumers’ perception of reduced calorie meals: How low is “Low-Calorie”?

ABSTRACT

With consumers becoming increasingly health conscious, the demand for reduced calorie food has significantly increased over the years. However, the definition of low-calorie food remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate consumers’ perception of reduced calorie meals, from the perspective of the maximum calorie level that consumers would consider as “low-calorie.” Survey data were collected using MTurk. In addition to respondents’ perception of the calorie count of low-calorie food when eating out and eating at home, respondents’ attitude toward low-calorie food, behaviors about consuming low-calorie food and exercise frequency, and demographic information were also assessed in the survey. The results demonstrate that consumers’ calorie perception of low-calorie food served in restaurants is consistent among different types of restaurants. Moreover, consumers believe that a low-calorie meal served in restaurants should be under 367 calories for breakfast, 500 calories for lunch, and 677 calories for dinner. Lastly, consumers perceive home-cooked meals to be lower in calories than restaurant food. This study is the first attempt to explore consumers’ definition of a low-calorie meal served in restaurants. The findings will provide guidance to restaurant operators in designing menus, and help policymakers better understand the ongoing need to develop a sound and comprehensive definition for the term “low-calorie.”     

对我国快餐业发展现状的分析

快餐,已经成为我国餐饮市场上的一支重要力量,有力地推动着餐饮经济的发展,主要表现在数量上的增加,其质量和内涵也发生了深刻的变化;行业的经营领域和市场空间不断拓宽,企业管理水平不断提高;经营业态日趋丰富,网点数量和从业人员队伍继续扩大;市场更加繁荣;连锁化、品牌化的步伐加快,社会地位和作用得到提升等方面。目前,我国快餐业存在的问题,主要是缺少著名品牌、缺乏高级管理人才、企业资本规模小、连锁化进程慢。这在一定程度上制约了中国快餐业的发展。我国快餐业在追求发展速度的同时,必须着手解决好制约快餐业发展的各种问题,从而推动我国快餐业健康、有序地发展。     

中式快餐存在的问题及对策

中式快餐存在发展缓慢,生产标准化低,缺乏完善的经营管理体系等问题。基于此,本文提出相应对策,即大力发展特许加盟,实行生产简单化、专业化、标准化,完善经营管理体系,提升食品质量与服务,加强建设并扩大品牌影响力,明确中式快餐经营品种和市场定位。