It Keeps the Good Boy Healthy from Nose to Tail: Understanding Pet Food Attribute Preferences of US Consumers

The study provides insights for marketing managers in specialized pet supplies retailers, as well as for vets and animal welfare organizations. This study proposes a model that investigates the importance pet owners place on convenience, natural ingredients, and value and health claims as product attributes. For this purpose, an online survey with a sample size of 206 pet-owning US residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that pet food purchase involvement positively impacts subjective and objective knowledge about pet food. Subjective knowledge appears to be the strongest factor impacting the importance consumers place on all three attributes. This is followed by objective knowledge. Socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, income, and education appear to have a limited impact as predictors for the importance consumers place on the product attributes.

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“Oh, You Shouldn’t Have!” Understanding Key Factors Impacting Cut Flowers Gifting Preferences in Germany

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7100368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 368

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

David L. Dean ◽

Nicole J. Olynk Widmar ◽

Vera Bitsch

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Key Factors ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Equation Modelling ◽

Socio Demographic Factors ◽

The Impact

Cut flower gifting preferences are relatively unexplored in Germany. This study proposes a model that investigates the impact of attitudinal, experiential, and socio-demographic factors on the cut flower gifting preferences of German consumers. For this purpose, an online survey with a representative sample of 978 German residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that active and passive engagement with plants and nature positively impact cut flower giving preferences through cut flower knowledge, cut flower fondness, and perceived versatility of cut flowers. For German women and men, the largest driver of cut flower giving preferences is the versatility of cut flowers. For women, cut flower fondness is the second largest driver of cut flower gifting preferences, whereas for men subjective knowledge was the second largest driver. Other socio-demographic factors (age, income, education) were not found to impact cut flower giving preferences.

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Understanding Apple Attribute Preferences of US Consumers

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods11020166 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 166

Author(s):

Rombach Meike ◽

David L. Dean ◽

Tim Baird

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Consumer Attitudes ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Objective Knowledge ◽

Key Factors ◽

Positive Health ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Societal Benefits ◽

Equation Modelling

Apple preferences of US consumers are widely explored. However, the key factors that drive the importance that US consumers place on apple attributes are rather unexplored. To fill this literature gap, an online survey with 383 US apple buyers was conducted. A two-step analysis consisting of descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modelling indicates that subjective knowledge was the most important factor, determining both the discernment of buyers and attitudes towards US fruit growers. Objective knowledge and sociodemographic factors, other than education, were not found to have any impact. The discernment of a buyer and their ability to distinguish apple varieties had the greatest impact on the importance that US consumers placed on physical and commercial product attributes. It was also found that attitudes towards growers impacted on the importance which consumers place on both types of attributes. Given that consumer attitudes were shown to be a strong driver of their buying preferences, growers and grower associations should also consider highlighting the positive health and societal benefits that their products provide.

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Just Love Me, Feed Me, Never Leave Me: Understanding Pet Food Anxiety, Feeding and Shopping Behavior of US Pet Owners in Covidian Times

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11113101 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3101

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

David L. Dean

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Shopping Behavior ◽

Pet Food ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Pet Owners ◽

Past Experiences ◽

The Impact ◽

Sufficient Food

The study provides insights for pet food retailers, vets and managers and volunteers at animal shelters, pet food pantries and food banks into the behavioral changes in feeding and pet food buying resulting from pet food anxiety in Covidian times. This study proposes a model that investigates the impact of pet owner’s perceptions of their pet, their engagement with their pet, sociodemographic factors and the frequency of incidences where pet owners could not provide sufficient food for their pet. For this purpose, an online survey with a sample of 206 US residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that perceiving the pet as an animal or family/friend, as well as active engagement with the pet, heightens a sense of pet food anxiety. Similarly, past experiences where pet owners could not provide sufficient food for their pet impacts pet food anxiety, which leads to changes in pet food shopping and pet feeding behavior. Sociodemographic factors (biological sex, age, income and education) were not found to impact anxiety.

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The Effects of Knowledge Types on Consumer Decision Making for Non-Toxic Housing Materials and Products

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su131911024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (19) ◽

pp. 11024

Author(s):

Hyun Joo Kwon ◽

Mira Ahn ◽

Jiyun Kang

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Intention ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Belief ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Objective Knowledge ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Knowledge Types ◽

Housing Materials

This study explored how different types of consumer knowledge (exposure, subjective knowledge, and objective knowledge) predict perceptions (benefits, severity, and barriers) and behavioral intention to choose non-toxic housing materials and products based on the extended health belief model (HBM). The target population was people 18 years or older living in the U.S. A total of 1050 valid responses were collected through an online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model via AMOS version 24. Results show that the prediction of exposure, subjective knowledge, and objective knowledge for behavioral intention is mediated by health belief perceptions in different ways. Exposure had a significant impact on perceived benefits and perceived severity but not on perceived barriers. Subjective knowledge was not significantly associated with perceptions, but all of the effects of objective knowledge on the HBM elements were significant. Significant indirect effects of exposure and subjective knowledge on behavioral intention were found; the indirect effects of objective knowledge on behavioral intention were insignificant. By adopting the extended HBM, this study contributes to a better understanding of the link among knowledge types and perceptions of non-toxic housing materials and products, and behavioral intention to choose them.

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Drivers of local food consumption: a comparative study

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-03-2015-0111 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 117 (9) ◽

pp. 2282-2299 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Constanza Bianchi ◽

Gary Mortimer

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Purchase Intention ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Local Food ◽

Extended Model ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Food Purchase ◽

Positive Attitudes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore antecedents of local food purchase intention in two food producing countries with different cultural backgrounds. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was employed to collect data from consumers located in Chile (n=283) and Australia (n=300). A proposed model is tested with structural equation modelling. Findings – Attitude towards consuming local food is a strong and direct driver of intentions to purchase local food in both countries. Attitude towards supporting local agri-businesses and consumer ethnocentrism are found to positively impact attitude towards consuming local food in both countries. Attitude towards local agri-businesses also has a direct effect on intentions to purchase local food in Australia, but not in Chile. Interestingly, subjective norms are not found to affect intentions to consume local food in either country. Research limitations/implications – The paper examines factors affecting the attitude towards and behavioural intention regarding local food consumption and develops an extended model of local food consumption. An outcome of this new model is the inclusion of personal variables, which influence local food purchasing behaviour. Practical implications – Producers and retailers need to develop campaigns explaining how consuming local food supports local businesses and farmers, which will reinforce personal values associated with local consumption. Originality/value – This is the first study to demonstrate that positive attitudes towards local foods are important drivers of local food purchase behaviour, independent of the cultural characteristics or level of economic development within a country.

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The EU health claims regulation: implications for innovation in the EU food sector

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-01-2016-0021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 118 (11) ◽

pp. 2647-2665 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sukhada Khedkar ◽

Stefano Ciliberti ◽

Stefanie Bröring

Keyword(s):

Product Innovation ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Food Industry ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Claims ◽

Food Sector ◽

Content Type ◽

External Knowledge ◽

The Impact ◽

The Eu

Purpose One of the objectives of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 (NHCR) is protection and promotion of innovation in the food industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the NHCR on both innovation and the sourcing of external knowledge in the European Union (EU) food sector. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted which resulted in a sample of 105 EU companies for the study. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the nature of relationships that existed among the challenges related to the implementation of the NHCR, external sources of knowledge and innovation. Findings Challenges related to the NHCR are currently found to have a negative direct impact on product innovation. However, they have a positive indirect effect on product innovation, especially in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises. They also seem to positively affect external knowledge sourcing. Additionally, sources of external knowledge are found to have a positive effect on product and process innovations. Practical implications This study provides insights to different stakeholders in the food industry who might wish to work jointly and address the various issues related to the requirements of the NHCR and facilitate compliance with the regulation. Originality/value Understanding the impact of the NHCR on innovation seems pivotal because innovation plays an important role in the EU food sector. To this purpose, the paper delivers insights into some main compliance challenges and their effect on innovation.

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Exploring Key Factors Determining US Consumer Preferences for Growing over Buying Fruit in Pre-Covidian and Covidian Times

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7120575 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 575

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

David L. Dean ◽

Tim Baird

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Key Factors ◽

Community Gardening ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

The Impact

This study provides insights for managers in the food retail sector, the horticultural industry, actors involved in community gardening and farmers’ markets. It proposes a model that investigates key factors determining US consumer preferences for growing fruit over buying it in pre-Covidian and Covidian times. For this purpose, an online survey with a sample of 383 US residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that subjective knowledge about fruit and the perceived impact of COVID-19 are the most important drivers of preferences for growing over buying in Covidian times. The impact of COVID-19 had no relevance for the pre-Covidian times. For both scenarios, only age and gender as socio-demographic factors were found to influence subjective knowledge and the perceived impact of COVID-19. Other sociodemographic factors were not found to have any impact.

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Consumers' knowledge discrepancy and confusion in intent to purchase farmed fish

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-01-2019-0021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 122 (11) ◽

pp. 3567-3583

Author(s):

Mohammed Ziaul Hoque ◽

Md. Nurul Alam

Keyword(s):

Purchase Intention ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Survey Design ◽

Negative Attitude ◽

Objective Knowledge ◽

Farmed Fish ◽

Content Type ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Consumption Practices ◽

Level Of Knowledge

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine the influence of consumers' perceived knowledge, knowledge discrepancy and confusion on the intention to purchase farmed fish (FF) via a survey design regarding perceptions, buying and consumption practices of urban households in Chittagong, Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachThe samples of 498 households were selected from a stratified cluster from the Chittagong city and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data have been analysed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results show that consumers' subjective knowledge (SK) is significant for purchase intention whereas objective knowledge (OK) is not. Again, consumers' SK, OK, knowledge discrepancy and confusion have no influence in forming consumers' attitude towards FF. However, consumers who overestimate their actual level of knowledge hold negative attitude towards FF and vice versa. Furthermore, consumers' OK affects their confusion inversely although it does not influence the purchase intention significantly.Practical implicationsIf the marketers can frame a more engaging means of communication and knowledge enhancement plan, consumers' attitude and purchase intention regarding FF will be signified.Originality/valueThis is the first study that fundamentally contributes to the scientific research in that it measures the knowledge discrepancy of consumers regarding FF. In addition, this study substantiates that low objective knowledge leads to confusing consumers at the time of purchasing. The effect of overestimating the level of knowledge as well as underestimating the level of knowledge in explaining the purchase intention of FF would be a supplementary addition.

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Sharenting: Internet addiction, self-control and online photos of underage children

Comunicar ◽

10.3916/c64-2020-09 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (64) ◽

pp. 97-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francisco-Javier Hinojo-Lucena ◽

Inmaculada Aznar-Díaz ◽

María-Pilar Cáceres-Reche ◽

Juan-Manuel Trujillo-Torres ◽

José-María Romero-Rodríguez

Keyword(s):

Internet Addiction ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Internet Security ◽

Self Control ◽

Socio Demographic Factors ◽

Low Self Control ◽

Practical Implications ◽

A Current

Sharenting is becoming a regular practice that compromises children’s safety and privacy. This phenomenon is related to the act of sharing images of underage children on the Internet by their relatives. At the same time, a concern arises about the levels of Internet addiction in the population. In turn, levels of Internet addiction are a current problem in modern societies that has been linked to low self-control. This paper aims to analyse the degree to which images are published and the reasons why the adult segment of the population practices sharenting, to determine the socio-demographic factors that have an impact on sharenting, Internet addiction and self-control, and to establish the correlations between these three variables. A total of 367 Spanish adults aged between 18 and 61 (M=28.98; SD=10.47) completed an online survey. Both the multiple regression analysis and the structural equation modelling revealed that: 1) Age emerges as a predictor of Internet addiction; 2) Age, gender and employment status are predictors of low self-control; 3) No socio-demographic factors were found to be predictors of sharenting; 4) The only significant correlation was observed between Internet addiction and self-control. Finally, practical implications of this paper on the protection of minors and adults’ need for information on Internet security are discussed. El sharenting se está convirtiendo en una práctica habitual que pone en riesgo la seguridad y privacidad de los niños. Este fenómeno responde al acto de compartir imágenes de menores de edad en Internet por parte de los familiares. A su vez, los niveles de adicción a Internet son una problemática actual en las sociedades modernas que ha empezado a vincularse con tener un bajo autocontrol. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el grado de publicación de imágenes y los motivos para realizar sharenting por parte de la población adulta, determinar los factores sociodemográficos que influyen en el sharenting, la adicción a Internet y autocontrol y establecer las correlaciones generadas entre estas tres variables. Participaron en la encuesta en línea un total de 367 adultos españoles entre 18 y 61 años (M=28,98; SD=10,47). Los análisis de regresión múltiple y el modelado de ecuaciones estructurales revelaron que: 1) La edad se alza como un predictor de la adicción a Internet; 2) La edad, género y situación laboral son predictores de un bajo autocontrol; 3) No se hallaron factores sociodemográficos que sean predictores del sharenting; 4) La única correlación significativa se estableció entre la adicción a Internet y el autocontrol. Finalmente, se discuten las implicaciones prácticas de este trabajo sobre la protección del menor y la necesidad de formación que tienen los adultos sobre seguridad en Internet.

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A Survey among Dog and Cat Owners on Pet Food Storage and Preservation in the Households

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11020273 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 273

Author(s):

Giada Morelli ◽

Davide Stefanutti ◽

Rebecca Ricci

Keyword(s):

Room Temperature ◽

Online Survey ◽

Storage Management ◽

Food Storage ◽

Pet Food ◽

Potential Health ◽

Raw Meat ◽

Pet Owners ◽

Direct Light ◽

Comprehensive Information

Background: Pet food storage plays a crucial role in maintaining the nutritional and sensory properties of purchased products over time. Methods: An online survey was developed to collect data regarding owners’ storage habits for both commercial and home-made diets. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1545 dog owners and 676 cat owners. Pet and owner age played roles in the choice of the type of diet (commercial vs. home-cooked vs. raw meat-based) adopted. Kibble feeders (75.7%) usually bought one (50.1%) or two (24.6%) packages at a time, and most pets (64.4%) took a minimum four weeks to consume an entire bag. Almost half of the owners (43.5%) used a container to store pet food (plastic bins for 79.5%). Pet food was commonly stored in the kitchen (45.1%) and not exposed to direct light (94.5%); 23.6% of the kibble feeders said it might be exposed to high temperatures. Most commercial pet food feeders (67.3%) considered preservatives a potential health risk for pets. Among homemade diet feeders, 38.6% stored fish oil at room temperature. Conclusions: Pet owners should be educated in proper food storage management when receiving feeding instructions from veterinarians. More comprehensive information on the nature and importance of additives in pet food should be promoted by manufacturers.

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