Using supermarket loyalty card data to measure the differential impact of the UK soft drink sugar tax on buyer behaviour

Author(s):  
Andrew Fearne ◽  
Natalia Borzino ◽  
Beatrix De La Iglesia ◽  
Peter Moffatt ◽  
Margaret Robbins
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Gemma Bridge ◽  
Stuart W. Flint ◽  
Ralph Tench

Abstract Objective: To explore the #SugarTax debate on Twitter to assess actors involved, their connections and the topics being discussed during the implementation and first anniversary of the UK Soft Drink Industry Levy. Design: The structure of the #SugarTax debate on Twitter was assessed using social network analysis. The actors involved, their connections and the topics of discussion taking place were also explored using content, sentiment and thematic analysis. Setting: Twitter between 2017 and 2019. Participants: Twitter users engaging in discussions relating to the hashtag ‘SugarTax’. Results: Tweets (n= 5366) posted between 5th August 2017 and 7th May 2019 containing #SugarTax were downloaded from Twitter using NodeXL. The network included 1883 users, with 686 unique edges and 4679 edges with duplicates. The majority of tweets were negative in sentiment, when assessed by both automatic (64%, n=141) and manual sentiment analysis (52%, n=115) methods. Nine key themes were identified and grouped into two groups according to ‘support for a sugar or SSB tax’ or ‘opposition for a sugar or SSB tax’. Conclusions: Twitter was used as a platform for debating the benefits and limitations of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes. The findings indicate that numerous actors are involved in the debates on Twitter, with advocates and lobbyists using the platform to raise support for their campaigns and reshape public perceptions. The findings and the methods used may be of interest to policy makers as well as to academics and members of the public looking to explore and engage in policy debates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (17) ◽  
pp. 3241-3249
Author(s):  
Gemma Bridge ◽  
Stuart W Flint ◽  
Ralph Tench

AbstractObjective:News media play a role in politics through the portrayal of policies, influencing public and policymaker perceptions of appropriate solutions. This study explored the portrayal of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes in UK national newspapers. Findings aid understanding of the role newspapers play in shaping understanding and acceptance of policies such as the UK Soft Drink Industry Levy (SDIL).Design:Articles discussing sugar or SSB taxes published in six UK national newspapers between 1 April 2016 and 1 May 2019 were retrieved from the LexisNexis database. Articles were thematically analysed to reveal policy portrayal.Setting/Participants:Analysis of UK newspaper articles.Results:Two hundred and eighty-six articles were assessed. Sugar and SSB taxes were discussed across the sample period but publication peaked at SDIL announcement and introduction. Themes were split according to support for or opposition to taxation. Supportive messaging consistently highlighted the negative impacts of sugar on health and the need for complex actions to reduce sugar consumption. Opposing messages emphasised individual responsibility for health and the unfairness of taxation both for organisations and the public.Conclusions:Sugar and SSB taxes received considerable media attention between 2016 and 2019. All newspapers covered arguments in support of and opposition to taxation. Health impacts of excess sugar and the role of the soft drink industry in reducing sugar consumption were prevalent themes, suggesting a joined-up health advocacy approach. Industry arguments were more varied, suggesting a less collaborative argument. Further research should investigate how other media channels portray taxes such as the SDIL.


2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (10) ◽  
pp. 1892-1902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy L. Wrieden ◽  
Julie Armstrong ◽  
Andrea Sherriff ◽  
Annie S. Anderson ◽  
Karen L. Barton

Monitoring changes in the food and nutrient intake of a nation is important for informing the design and evaluation of policy. Surveys of household food consumption have been carried out annually in the UK since 1940 and, despite some changes over the years 1940–2000, the method used for the Expenditure and Food Survey (Living Costs and Food Survey from 2008) has been fundamentally the same since 2001. Using these surveys an analytical procedure was devised to compare food consumption and nutrient intake in Scotland with the Scottish dietary targets, and monitor change. This method takes into account contributions to composite foods and losses due to food preparation, as well as inedible and edible waste. There were few consistent improvements in consumption of foods or nutrients targeted for change over the period 2001–9. A significant but small increase was seen in mean fruit and vegetable consumption (259 g/d in 2001, 279 g/d in 2009, equating to an increase of less than 3 g/person per year). There was also a significant decrease in the percentage of food energy from SFA (15·5 % in 2001, 15·1 % in 2009) and from non-milk extrinsic sugars (15·5 % in 2001, 14·8 % in 2009), concurrent with a reduction in whole milk consumption and soft drink consumption, respectively. These small changes are encouraging, but highlight the time taken for even modest changes in diet to occur. To achieve a significant impact on the health of the present Scottish population, the improvements in diet will need to be greater and more rapid.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Green ◽  
Anthony W. Watson ◽  
Jeffrey M. Brunstrom ◽  
Bernard M. Corfe ◽  
Alexandra M. Johnstone ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 2501-2529
Author(s):  
Marcel Paulssen ◽  
Johanna Brunneder ◽  
Angela Sommerfeld

Purpose Prior research does not provide a clear picture of how managers can effectively manage customer in-role and extra-role behaviours in a retail setting. This study aims to test the differential impact of the two main customer relationship predictor paths – identity-based and satisfaction-based paths – on customer in-role and extra-role behaviours. Design/methodology/approach A random sample of 500 customers from the flagship store of an up-market, international department store chain participated in a written survey. Purchase spending data for each customer was obtained from the retailer’s loyalty card database. Findings The two studied predictor paths possess a differential impact on customer extra-role behaviours. Civic virtue and co-creation behaviours are exclusively driven by the identity-based path, whereas sportsmanship is driven solely by the satisfaction-based path. Moreover, the identity-based path impacts purchase behaviour only when symbolic purchase motivation is high. Overall satisfaction has no impact on purchase behaviour. Research limitations/implications In some retailing contexts, extra-role behaviours such as co-creation or civic virtue might simply be irrelevant (e.g. discount chains). Practical implications Managers, who have the intention to stimulate customers to give constructive feedback on products or services, or to involve them in co-creation activities, are well advised to also invest in identity-based path activities. Originality/value This study is the first to empirically test the effects of customer identification and overall customer satisfaction on the various dimensions of customer in-role and extra-role behaviours. Customer extra-role behaviours should not be conceptualised as one global construct but should comprise distinct dimensions of discretionary behaviours that have different antecedents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 598-603
Author(s):  
Bernard T. Y. Chu ◽  
Cristina P. Irigaray ◽  
Sarah E. Hillier ◽  
Miriam E. Clegg

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1481
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Clark ◽  
Becky Shute ◽  
Victoria Jenneson ◽  
Tim Rains ◽  
Mark Birkin ◽  
...  

Poor diet is a leading cause of death in the United Kingdom (UK) and around the world. Methods to collect quality dietary information at scale for population research are time consuming, expensive and biased. Novel data sources offer potential to overcome these challenges and better understand population dietary patterns. In this research we will use 12 months of supermarket sales transaction data, from 2016, for primary shoppers residing in the Yorkshire and Humber region of the UK (n = 299,260), to identify dietary patterns and profile these according to their nutrient composition and the sociodemographic characteristics of the consumer purchasing with these patterns. Results identified seven dietary purchase patterns that we named: Fruity; Meat alternatives; Carnivores; Hydrators; Afternoon tea; Beer and wine lovers; and Sweet tooth. On average the daily energy intake of loyalty card holders -who may buy as an individual or for a household- is less than the adult reference intake, but this varies according to dietary purchase pattern. In general loyalty card holders meet the recommended salt intake, do not purchase enough carbohydrates, and purchase too much fat and protein, but not enough fibre. The dietary purchase pattern containing the highest amount of fibre (as an indicator of healthiness) is bought by the least deprived customers and the pattern with lowest fibre by the most deprived. In conclusion, supermarket sales data offer significant potential for understanding population dietary patterns.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 583-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Tiffin ◽  
Ariane Kehlbacher ◽  
Matthew Salois
Keyword(s):  

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