British Food Journal

Indian cold chain: modeling the inhibitors : Table of Contents

Rohit Joshi, Devinder Kumar Banwet, Ravi Shankar — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The cold chain has become an integral part of the supply chain of perishable items. Recent studies have shown a critical absence of a strong and dependable cold chain in developing economies. The purpose of this paper is to set out to identify and inter-relate the inhibitors that significantly influence the efficiency of a cold chain in developing economies like India. Design/methodology/approach – The synthesis and prioritization of inhibitors are done on the basis of an extensive literature review as well as consultation with academicians and industrial professionals. Using semi-structured interviews and Fuzzy Interpretive Structure Modeling (FISM) approach, the research presents a hierarchy-based model. Findings – The end result is a model that establishes the relationships among the identified inhibitors with their respective dominance. The research shows that there exists a group of inhibitors having a high driving power and low dependence with strategic importance and requiring maximum attention and another group includes inhibitors that have high dependence and the consequential actions. Research limitations/implications – At the time when cold chain is the key domain for the food sector, these findings will be immensely helpful for industry professionals, Government, non-government, academia and the community in developing strategies and impounding the root causes responsible for the inefficient and weak cold chain in India. The Indian situation echoes to the situation in most of the developing economies and similar solutions can apply there also. These findings will be truly useful for organizations that are planning to operate food chains in developing nations. Orignality/value – Presentation of inhibitors in hierarchy and their classification into driver and dependent categories with their respective dominance on the system is a unique effort in the area of cold chain management. This would help decision makers to better utilize the limited resources.

The influence of consumer involvement on quality signals perception: An empirical investigation in the food sector : Table of Contents

Joel Espejel, Carmina Fandos, Carlos Flavián — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the moderating effect of consumer involvement level in the influence exerted by perceived quality on consumer perceived risk, trust, satisfaction and loyalty. The paper seeks to conduct this analysis for a protected designation of origin (PDO) food product, the cured ham “Jamón de Teruel”. This analysis aims to distinguish perceived quality in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic attributes of PDO. Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Specifically, consumers were asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of statements based on a seven-point Likert scale. After completion of fieldwork, an analytic process (exploratory and confirmatory reliability analysis) was performed to obtain 441 valid questionnaires. A multi-sample model was applied to analyse the effect level of consumer involvement in the proposed model. Findings – The results suggest that the influence of quality attributes on consumers' perceived risk, trust, satisfaction and loyalty is substantially different between consumers with a high involvement level and consumers with low involvement. In addition, substantial differences were also found in the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic quality attributes on the model being analysed. The results of the analysis show that for the group of highly involved consumers the influence of both intrinsic and extrinsic perceived quality on the consumers' loyalty level is clearly higher. Practical implications – Managers of PDO food products need to understand how consumer involvement level regarding their products influences consumers' decision-making processes. Thus, PDO managers should take advantage of the situation that those highly involved consumers in this kind of product are more receptive to their advertisements. Moreover, promotion of PDO food products based on the quality, tradition and know-how of certain brands may make the consumer reach higher attention levels in an easier manner, so that their loyalty levels towards the brands will be reinforced. Originality/value – The paper analyses the moderating effect of consumer involvement of a traditional PDO food product. There is a lack of literature that focuses on the influence of consumer involvement of food products in consumer behaviour patterns. The paper tries to advance this important research line.

The importance of personal norms for purchasing organic milk : Table of Contents

Christian A. Klöckner, Silvia Ohms — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to apply a structured approach to understand the importance of personal ecological norms in purchasing organic food. The norm-activation-model by Schwartz is used to predict self-reported and observed purchase behaviour of organic milk. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports the results of a field study with 63 customers of a German supermarket. A combination of covert observation and in-store interviews was applied to obtain reliable data on actual shopping behaviour and its predictors. Findings – The results show that the self-reported and the observed purchase of organic milk is predicted by personal ecological norms, social norms, and perceived behavioural control. Personal norms are activated by awareness of need, awareness of consequences, perceived behavioural control, and social norms. People with strong personal norms use “organic production”, the “EU-BIO-Label” and “ingredients” as additional criteria during their decision process. For people with strong ecological norms the price difference between organic and conventional milk, the lack of knowledge about organic milk, and convenience are less important constraints. Finally, people with strong personal norms react more sensitively to proposed norm-centred interventions. Practical implications – The study offers insight into the processes of motivating behaviour and can therefore be used to design intervention strategies. Suggestions are developed in the closing part of the paper. Originality/value – The study applies for the first time the norm-activation-model to the domain of purchasing organic milk and underlines the importance of normative influences for this decision.

Determining the factors affecting the consumers' willingness to pay higher prices for genetically unmodified products: Tomato case study in Turkey : Table of Contents

Z. Gokalp Goktolga, Kemal Esengun — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors affecting the consumers' willingness to pay higher prices for genetically unmodified products. Design/methodology/approach – Tomato was selected as a model crop. Data used in this study were gathered from questionnaires conducted in Tokat province of Turkey in April 2006. Questionnaires were accomplished via face-to-face interviews over 262 households. “Ordered logit model” was used in determining the factors that affect the willingness of consumers for higher prices for genetically unmodified products. Ordered models are those that limit dependent variables to certain intervals. According to the results, variables of household size, monthly household income, household's monthly food consumption expenditure and level of consumers' sensitivity over the issue affected the willingness to pay higher prices for genetically unmodified products. Findings – Results of the study indicated that household size and monthly household income had negative effects on the willingness to pay extra, while monthly food expenditure and concern had positive effects. Originality/value – The results of the study will be beneficial for the policy makers, producers, consumers and those conducting research in this area alike. Carrying out studies aimed at determining consumer preference, such as this, will help form consumer consciousness, especially in Turkey, to protect consumer health.

Combining social and nutritional perspectives: from adolescence to adulthood (the ASH30 study) : Table of Contents

A.A. Lake, R.M. Hyland, A.J. Rugg-Gunn, J.C. Mathers, A.J. Adamson — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus specifically on the benefits of using mixed methods to investigate dietary change from adolescence to adulthood exemplified using the findings from the ASH30 longitudinal study. The ASH30 study is a longitudinal dietary survey which provided quantitative evidence of dietary change and investigated factors influencing dietary change from adolescence to adulthood. Design/methodology/approach – Two three-day food diaries were collected both in 1980 (aged 11-12 years) and 2000 (aged 31-32 years) from the same 198 respondents in North East England. In 2,000 questionnaires were used to collect perceptions of, and attributions for, dietary change and open-ended responses were analysed using content analysis. Findings – The use of mixed methods brings added breadth and depth to the research which cannot be achieved by a single discipline or method. Determining what has influenced change in dietary behaviour from adolescence to adulthood is a complex and multifaceted task. Eating habits are influenced by multiple factors throughout the life course. Change in food intake between adolescence and adulthood related to life-course events and trajectories. The qualitative findings highlighted relevant contextual information such as themes of moral panics, the concept of “convenience” and “fresh” foods. Practical implications – Adopting mixed method approaches to exploring dietary change should offer a rich perspective from which to base realistic interventions. Originality/value – Longitudinal dietary surveys present an opportunity to understand the complex process of dietary change throughout the life course in terms both of how diets have changed but also of why they have changed.

The UK pig cycle: a spectral analysis : Table of Contents

Philip John Dawson — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify cyclical patterns in the prices and production of UK pigmeat, 1989-2008. Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of spectral analysis. Findings – Results show evidence of both annual and seasonal cycles, but there is little evidence of a three-to-four-year cycle. The likely cause of the latter's absence is increasing imports and a changing market structure. Practical implications – Conventional wisdom is that the traditional pig cycle is of three-to-four years' duration and the UK's pig policy is based partly on its existence and that the design and implementation of UK pig policy are predicated on the basis of a traditional cycle is misplaced. Originality/value – No previous or recent empirical investigation of the UK pig cycle exists, perhaps because its existence is considered to be axiomatic.

Wine, history, landscape: origin branding in Western Australia : Table of Contents

Abel Duarte Alonso, Jeremy Northcote — Sat Nov 07 08:00:18 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose – Wine is an integral part of so-called “Old World” nations, amalgamating with the local history and landscape, and providing a powerful “origin branding”. To date, however, these dimensions have been discussed to a very limited extent in emerging “New World” wine regions, where the lack of a traditional heritage of wine making presents special challenges in terms of origin branding. The focus of most previous research has been on the viewpoints of consumers, not those of producers. This study seeks to explore these dimensions among small wine growers. Design/methodology/approach – Using a qualitative approach, 42 interviews with winery operators from several emerging Western Australian wine regions were conducted. Findings – In the absence of historical wine pioneers and traditions, winery operators in emerging wine-producing regions use alternative means for “origin branding” that emphasise heritage and landscape characteristics centring on the wider “rural idyll”. These associations serve to forge a “vintage” identity for their industry, which essentially masks its youth for their region. Research limitations/implications – In view of the more than 200 small wineries operating in Western Australia the number of respondents in the study may not allow for making generalisations of the state's wine industry. Practical implications – The current growth in the number of wineries in the regions studied and the increasingly acknowledged quality of their wine product may help towards the establishment of their history and identity, thus contributing to origin branding over time. Originality/value – The study explores the importance of history and landscape among winery operators in promoting their wineries and their wine products in the context of emerging wine regions, an area for the most part ignored in contemporary research.