SNACK PEANUTS PURCHASE PATTERN: EFFECTS OF NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

This study examines the effect of a meal planner's nutritional awareness, exercise habits, and household socioeconomic characteristics on market participation and frequency of purchase of snack peanuts. Data are from a household survey of 2880 U.S. households collected by Gallup in 1997. Statistical tests showed that a double-hurdle or Cragg model best represented consumers' participation and purchase level decisions in the snack peanut market. The results indicated that meal planner's nutritional considerations while making food purchase decisions had little effect on the participation level decisions, but did affect purchase frequency of snack peanuts. Those household meal planners who were overly concerned about undesirable nutritional factors tended to decrease their purchase of snack peanuts. Promotion of snack peanuts on the basis of nutritional benefits through health professional and media is a useful tool to increase purchase frequency.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Household Snack-Food Purchases: Does Nutrition Matter?

Purchase patterns for two types of snack foods--pretzels and popcorn, and potato, corn, and tortilla chips--were analyzed using the data from a national survey. The study examined the effect of socio-economic and lifestyle factors including nutritional awareness and exercise habits of household respondents on snack-food purchase. A geometric-hurdle count-data model that distinguished between market-participation and purchase-frequency decisions revealed that the decision to participate in the market for snack food was separate from the purchase-level decision. Pretzels and popcorn consumers were unaffected by nutrition consideration of any kind. However, respondents who were overly concerned about desirable nutritional factors were unlikely to be buyers or potential buyers of snacks such as potato, corn, and tortilla chips.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

EFFECT OF GENERIC PROMOTION OF FLOWERS ON THE USE OF RETAIL FLOWER OUTLETS

AIDs demand models are used to test if the generic promotion of fresh-cut flowers influenced the market shares for florists, supermarkets, and other retail outlets. Were the generic efforts outlet neutral? Generic promotions of fresh-cut flowers is shown to be outlet neutral while the brand advertising increased florists' market share.Fresh-cut flowers, generic promotion, AIDs model, Marketing,

UNDERSTANDING CONSUMERS' ATTITUDE TOWARD MEAT LABELS AND MEAT CONSUMPTION PATTERN

This paper addressed consumers' attitude toward meat labels and the influence of different aspects of meat labels on beef, poultry and seafood consumption using a national survey data. Nutrition and ingredient information on meat labels were positively related with attitude toward meat labels as well as meat consumption frequency.Consumer/Household Economics,

Purchasing Locally Produced Fresh Vegetables: National Franchise vs. Locally Owned and Operated Restaurants

The objective of this study is to examine purchasing practices of locally produced fresh vegetables among restaurants and food service institutions. The sample for the study included managers of 75 restaurants and dining centers out of a total of nearly 600 food service outlets in a mid-size metropolitan city in Midwest with a population of about 400,000. The study findings show differential preferences between national/regional chains and the local independently owned restaurants. Although managers across the board expressed willingness to buy local, actual purchasing decisions were largely driven by freshness, quality and availability. Price was not as critical a factor as others including variety and selection. The results suggest that local vegetable producers should use regularity, quality, and freshness to differentiate themselves. As a producer of small volume of fresh vegetables local farmers have much higher probability of success if they supply to locally and independently owned restaurants. These restaurants use small volume of vegetables in broader variety. Additionally, small variety growers may need to recast their business models as the industry seem to be moving towards fewer vegetables delivered round the year. These producers should consider investments in greenhouse to gain a competitive edge.local food, restaurant managers, logit, Agribusiness,

CONSUMPTION OF REDUCED-FAT PEANUT BUTTER IN ADDITION TO THE CONSUMPTION OF REGULAR PEANUT BUTTER

A set of factors has been identified to affect consumption of reduced-fat peanut butter in addition to regular peanut butter. We found that consumption of reduced-fat peanut butter, which is an imperfect substitute for regular peanut butter, may expand total demand for peanut butter. Interestingly, for those who usually buy the same brand of peanut butter, their consumption of reduced-fat peanut butter is more likely in addition to consumption of regular peanut butter, implying promotion of a specific brand of reduced-fat peanut butter tend to increase total demand for the same brand of peanut butter.reduced-fat peanut butter, regular peanut butter, Consumer/Household Economics,

UK Consumers' Willingness-to-Accept (WTA) GM Food

Our study uses contingent valuation survey data (WTA and WTP) collected in the UK to examine consumers' behavioral intention with regard to GM food. In particular, we characterize respondents who selected "Don't Know" and "Protest" options in WTP questions in terms of what they would do when offered discount for GM food.Contingent valuation, WTA, WTP, genetically modified food, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Soyfood Consumption Patterns: Effects of Product Attributes and Household Characteristics

Effects of perceived attributes of soyfoods on the consumption patterns for six different soyfood products are evaluated. Perceived attributes include convenience, health benefits, and taste. The soyfood products are tofu, vegetable burgers, soy milk, soy supplements, meat substitutes, and soy cheese. This study uses a conceptual model that highlights the role of perceived attributes in a demand model by combining Lancaster’s characteristics model with Fishbein’s multi-attribute model. A binary-choice model and a zero-inflated negative binomial model (ZINB) are used as empirical specifications to address the zero consumption of soyfood products. Results show that perceived health attributes of soyfood have differential effects across the six soyfood products. Convenience of preparation and consumption as well as taste have strong effects across soyfood products. The study identifies several socio-economic characteristics of consumers that have a significant influence on soyfood consumption patterns. Implications for the food industry are discussed in relation to the differential effects of health attributes and socio-demographic variables.Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,