Shaping consumer perception: effects of vertical and horizontal packaging alignment

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-431
Author(s):  
Jannick Bettels ◽  
Janina Haase ◽  
Klaus-Peter Wiedmann

Purpose Packaging represents an essential issue for marketers in terms of effectively communicating the product’s benefits, especially in the case of organic food products. Because of logistical advantages, rectangular packaging is frequently used for organic food products. However, the question arises whether packaging alignment may significantly influence consumers’ decision-making at the point of sale. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the effects of rectangular packaging alignment (vertical vs horizontal) on consumer perception in the context of organic food products. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of the empirical results of a pilot study, a between-subjects online experiment with a sample size of 699 participants and two conditions (vertical vs horizontal packaging alignment) was performed. Analyses of covariance and PROCESS mediation analysis were used for data analysis. Findings The results of two empirical studies confirm the relevance of differences in consumers’ horizontal and vertical information processing for the research context of organic food and provide evidence for the assumed relevance of packaging alignment by ultimately showing a change in packaging alignment affects consumers’ willingness to pay. Importantly, this effect is mediated by utilitarian value perception. Originality/value This paper importantly contributes to research on packaging design of organic food products. Specifically, the relevance of an efficient utilitarian value perception for the consumer’s willingness to pay is highlighted in this context. Potential implications of these results for companies, consumers and public health are discussed.

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 396-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Seegebarth ◽  
Stefan Henrik Behrens ◽  
Christiane Klarmann ◽  
Nadine Hennigs ◽  
Lisa Luebbehusen Scribner

Purpose – Due to consumer concerns about food-related diseases and an increase in the use of genetically modified food, more and more “green consumers” integrate environmental considerations into daily purchases, asking for healthier, safer and higher quality food. Marketing managers still face the challenge of broadening the understanding of how and why consumers purchase organic food. Specifically, a deeper understanding of the value dimensions consumers perceive in the context of organic food products is required to develop and implement successful management strategies which might transfer positive consumer perceptions to actual buying behavior and satisfaction. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on theoretical and empirical insights on organic food consumption in different markets, this research investigates antecedents of organic food products and differences regarding the relative importance of the value-based drivers across two Western nations. Findings – The results from survey data indicate significant differences in the value perceptions, especially the functional and individual value perceptions, and recommendation behavior related to organic food for consumers from the USA and Germany. In addition, the segmentation approach provides evidence for consumer segments that cross-national borders: the “convinced opponents,” the “silent/private consumers,” the “prestige-seekers” and the “passionate evangelists.” Originality/value – Consequently, instead of a country-based segmentation approach, marketers should emphasize the different types of consumers across national borders in order to address the differences in customer value perception in the organic food market.


2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 2218-2233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marin Cagalj ◽  
Rainer Haas ◽  
Ulrich B. Morawetz

Purpose Claims about environmental impact, health effects and taste of food products are restricted in the EU. The purpose of this paper is to quantify how much such claims would change the willingness to pay (WTP) for organic products in Croatia. Design/methodology/approach For estimating the WTP under different claims the authors used an experimental auction. Participants (258) bid for real food products (organic and conventional tomatoes and apples) and are endowed with cash at a location where they usually go shopping. Findings For the sample the authors find that consumers are willing to pay on average a premium of 42 percent for organic apples and 59 percent for organic tomatoes. On top of that, WTP increases between 16-20 percent for environmental claims and 12 percent for health claims. Taste-related claims are not significant. Practical implications Sellers and producers of organic food can benefit from adding claims to organic labels. To protect consumers from manipulation, regulators are well advised to be cautions when allowing claims about credence attributes of food. Originality/value The authors quantify the influence of claims about organic products on the WTP by using experimental auctions which are particularly suitable to investigate effects which cannot be observed on the market.


Food Policy ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marvin T. Batte ◽  
Neal H. Hooker ◽  
Timothy C. Haab ◽  
Jeremy Beaverson

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Efthimia Tsakiridou ◽  
Christina Boutsouki ◽  
Yorgos Zotos ◽  
Kostantinos Mattas

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to identify consumers' attitudes and behaviour towards organic products in Greece.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on a non‐probability quota sample of 660 respondents to explore the attitudes and behaviour of Greek consumers towards organic food products.FindingsGreek consumers seem to be informed about environmental and health issues. They seek information about the nutritional value of food and demand more products free from chemical residues. The results show that most consumers associate organic consumption mainly with fruit and vegetables. Although demographics seem to affect attitudes towards organics, their value in explaining actual behaviour is minimal.Research limitations/implicationsIt is recognized that the data gathered in this study focus on the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki, Greece. The specific area though, is considered to be representative of the total Greek population. The results confirm that health, concern for the environment, animal welfare and support of the local economy are drivers of organic consumption. However, there is an indication that the importance of motives and barriers may vary for different product categories and perhaps future research should focus on product segmentation.Practical implicationsAlthough certain similarities in consumers' attitudes towards organic food products have been identified, this paper records the variation in behaviour towards organics among the various consumer groups examined in Greece, and highlights the gap between attitudes and actual behaviour. Given the complexity of consumer decision making, future research should explore the other value trade‐offs that consumers make.Originality/valueThis paper attempts to provide evidence on the relatively under researched area of organics attitudes and behaviour in Greece.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heerah Jose ◽  
Vijay Kuriakose ◽  
Moli P. Koshy

Purpose Indian consumers are showing an increased demand for organic food products; however, little is known about their intention to buy organic foods. The purpose of this paper is to understand how fear towards conventional food products motivates an individual to buy organic food products and whether trust and perceived price as contextual factors are able to enhance the buying intention. Design/methodology/approach A total of 275 valid responses were collected using a self-administrated structured questionnaire, representative of Indian consumers. An ordinary least square regression analysis was used to analyse the effect of trust and perceived price in influencing the relationship between consumers’ fear and intention to buy organic food products. Findings The moderating role of trust and perceived price in enhancing the direct relation between fear and intention was established. In addition, cluster analysis results revealed that married women with children are showing a greater interest in buying organic food products. Practical implications The findings of the study are of high importance to all stakeholders in organic food products, as selecting marketing practices which target consumers’ concern is an indispensable part of finding a niche for organic food products. Originality/value The findings suggest that even though consumers are fearful towards conventional food products, they displayed negative intention to buy organic food products when their trust towards the third party is low, thus confirming the importance of trust as a buffering agent.


2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (9) ◽  
pp. 2965-2979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ágnes Szegedyné Fricz ◽  
András Ittzés ◽  
László Ózsvári ◽  
Dávid Szakos ◽  
Gyula Kasza

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the role of local origin of food in the Hungarian population's decisions regarding food purchase and to identify under which conditions consumers consider food to be a local product.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on a representative quantitative consumer survey (n = 1,000). Cluster analysis was used to define different consumer groups.FindingsIn general, consumers perceive that local products have positive characteristics that distinguish them from not locally sourced foodstuffs. The results prove that the accessibility of local food products differs to a great extent in towns and regions. In towns with local markets, the ratio of recognition and acceptance of local products is higher. Based on the attitudes and behaviour of respondents towards local products, five clusters were separated and described.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the sample's representativeness of three demographic factors was ensured, some general limitations resulted from the sampling methodology.Practical implicationsBased on the study findings, the authors encourage farmers' market operators to actively study the purchasing habits, attitudes and expectations of the consumer groups described in the study and to exchange information to promote the development of an economically successful local food supply system.Originality/valueThis empirical representative study is suitable to describe the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Hungarian consumers related to local food products. Consumer perception about local food varies internationally; therefore, national level studies are important to understand the viability of short food supply chains.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ketsuree Vijaranakorn ◽  
Randall Shannon

Purpose This study aims to develop a theoretical concept by examining the country image effects on luxury value perception, a matter past studies have overlooked. Multiple facets of country image, cognitive and affective dimensions, have been developed to evaluate perceived luxury value and purchase intention. However, no prior studies have considered all the types of perceived luxury values: utilitarian value, hedonic value, symbolic value and economic value, considered in relation to cognitive and affective country image in an emerging country’s market. Accordingly, this study has attempted to explore the ways Thai luxury consumers perceive the image of the country and the influence of the perceived value of Thai luxury brands, to learn which country attributes strengthen the luxury brand’s value and customers’ purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach A total of 407 Thai respondents, who were luxury-product consumers who knew and previously had bought either Thai luxury brands or global luxury brands, comprised the final sample examined. Structural Equation Modeling was employed in this research to test the research hypotheses. The structural model proposed a causal relationship between two endogenous constructs, cognitive and affective country images, and five exogenous constructs: utilitarian value, hedonic value, symbolic value, economic value and purchase intention. Findings The findings confirmed that countries are like brands in that the perceived image of each country’s aspects, cognitive and affective, influences the perceived value in each dimension differently, and so affects purchase intention. This implies that the evaluation of perceived quality or perceived value for money, as in past studies, cannot accurately demonstrate what particular benefits consumers receive when they utilize the country-image cue. Country image has both symbolic and emotional significances for consumers. The findings have provided a more precise measure of the effects of country image as well as important information on country positioning the in the world market. Research limitations/implications There are some limitations in this study. The reliance on Thai samples from one city has limited the generalizability of the findings. Moreover, this study considered only one country of brand origin, and only one product category has been chosen as the stimulus, which together are the major limitations of this study. Future research could also consider further testing country image effects on value perception with other extrinsic attributes, rather than using a single cue, as this study did. Additionally, antecedent variables that may have an influence on country-image effects should be considered in future studies. Practical implications The relation of country image and value perception could help both governments and companies support their national brands more effectively, or to export products in accordance with the image aspect that most strongly impacts consumers’ positive perception of value. Moreover, it would be valuable for companies producing luxury products to know which country attributes strengthen the brand’s value. Luxury-brand managers will have to take these aspects into consideration when developing their communications strategies (Krupka et al., 2014). Originality/value There is a lack of research as regards the impact of a brand name’s perceived origin on the luxury perception associated with that brand (Salciuviene et al., 2010). This research is the first to investigate the theoretical framework of luxury value perception found in relation to cognitive and affective country images. From an academic perspective, this study sought to increase the theoretical research relating to the ambiguous conceptualization of the country-image effect on consumers’ perception of value in luxury products. Additionally, the relation of country image to luxury value perception could help both governments and companies support their national luxury brands more effectively, or to export luxury products in accordance with the image aspect that most strongly impacts consumers’ positive perception of value.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5(J)) ◽  
pp. 208-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd J.S. Baiyegunhi ◽  
Sikhumbuzo E. Mashabane ◽  
Nonjabulo C Sambo

This study evaluates consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for organic vegetables and fruits in Pietermaritzburg metropolis, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, using data collected from 210 consumers approached during their food shopping. The standard economic approach to valuation was extended by including psychological factors. The results from the empirical model show that psychological factors (behavioural control, attitude and subjective norms) exerted more influence on consumers’ WTP for organic products. In addition, socio-demographic factors such as gender, education, number of children in a household, high income and race, are statistically significant in explaining consumers’ WTP for organic food. Policy implications for advancement and improved promotion, sales and consumption of organic food products were discussed.  


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