Factors affecting consumers’ purchasing behaviour towards local foods in Greece: the case of the prefecture of Xanthi

This paper aims to identify the factors that affect consumers purchasing behaviour towards locally produced food in Greece and more precisely in the Prefecture of Xanthi. Field interviews conducted in a random selected sample consisted of 100 consumers in February of 2011. Multivariate statistical analysis performed to identify consumers behaviour toward local products. In particular, principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted in order to identify the factors that affect people in preferring locally produced food. The factors that influence people in the Prefecture of Xanthi to buy local food products are: (a) the topicality of the products, (b) quality and health issues, (c) appearance, (d) freshness and taste issues (e) curiosity and prestige. Furthermore, cluster analysis was employed to classify consumers with similar buying behaviour, and identified 2 groups of consumers: (a) those are influenced by curiosity, prestige and freshness of the product and (b) those are interested in the topicality of the product. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess how the identified factors derived from PCA could predict cluster membership. Non parametric statistical bivariate techniques were performed to profile the identified group of consumers regarding their personal characteristics and some other factors affecting their consuming behaviour.consumer behaviour, local food, consumer preferences

The marketing strategies of livestock enterprises in objective one regions : a comparative study between Greece and United Kingdom

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2512 on 12.04.2017 by CS (TIS)This research aims to identify the marketing decisions made by agricultural producers in two E. U. Objective I regions and to provide insights into the reasons that such decisions are made, with a particular focus on meat and milk products. Two farm business surveys; one in the involving sheep and goat farmers in the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace (EMT11) in Greece and one in the sheep and dairy cow fanners in Cornwall, U. K. were undertaken in order to identify their marketing behaviour. This study used robust predictive models incorporating bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques in order to develop marketing typologies regarding tile livestock and milk marketing strategiest hat the sheepa nd goat fan-ncrsf ollow in EMT11a nd which tile sheepa nd dairy cow fan-nersa dopt in Cornwall. Results show that the sheep and goat fan-ners in EMTh follow three different livestock marketing strategies: (a) cost-focus strategy, (b) production-orientation strategy and (c) return-focus strategy; and three different milk marketing strategies: (a) differentiation strategy, (b) production orientation strategy and (c) return focus strategy. Sheep farmers in Cornwall adopt the following two marketing strategies: (a) differentiation strategy and (b) production-orientation strategy; while tile dairy cow Cornish fan-ners adopt tile following three marketing strategies: (a) opportunistic strategy, (b) return focus strategy and (c) market orientation strategy.T his study deten-ninedth e factors and the characteristicst hat influence the fanners to adopt a particular marketing strategy. Moreover, marketing channel selection is related to distribution channel utilisation. It also identified the factors included sale price, speed of payment, volurne of livestock and milk production and loyalty that affect tile fanners in EMT11to choosea particular marketing channel. Farmersi n Cornwall are also influenced in their marketing channel selection by welfare issues, marketing cost and convenience. Finally, implications of these findings for agencies and organisations seeking to Increase tile regional GDP derived from the agrifood sector in these regions, were identified

THE EFFECT OF PRE-WEANING FEEDING BEHAVIOUR ON POST-WEANING FEEDING BEHAVIOUR IN PIGS WEANED AT 3, 4 AND 5 WEEKS OF AGE

A program of study was undertaken to asses the effect of pre-weaning feeding behaviour on post-weaning feeding behaviour in pigs weaned at various ages (3, 4 and 5 weeks of age) and to identify ways of increasing their post-weaning feed intake. The studies were constructed using time extensive continuous recording methods in order to monitor the 'true' behaviour unbiased by sampling errors. Piglets weaned at 3 weeks of age had the ability to grow faster and became significantly heavier at six weeks of age (3W: 12.S06 ± 0.629 kg) than piglets that had to extent their stay for one (4W: 10.S14 ± 0.693 kg) or two more weeks (SW: 10.987 ± 0.376 kg) with the sow. In addition, 4W piglets had the greatest difficulty adapting to their new environment in comparison to 3W and SW piglets, as they had greater scores on aggressive and abnormal behaviour during the week post-weaning. This study demonstrated that the provision of a familiar feeder post-weaning i) allowed all 4W piglets, irrespective of their pre-weaning feeding experiences, to allocate the feeding resources unaided and autonomously without having to rely on the feeding temperament of their more experienced littermates or having to imitate them eating, ii) helped the less experienced piglets of the litter (regarding their feeding behaviour) to build a stronger immune system and to become heavier at the end of the first week and iii) improved the welfare of the piglets soon after weaning as they were performing significantly less belly-nosing in contrast to equivalent piglets that were not suited with a familiar feeder. Also, extensive pre-weaning feeding behaviour can help 4W piglets obtain a stronger immune system by the end of lactation independent of their weight and their teat order. The study reported in this thesis provides good evidence that choosing to use a time-period which was previously applied by other researchers could lead most of the times to incorrect conclusions. Also, short time-sampling strategies have been proven to be insufficient to provide strong or valid statistical associations with the 'true' duration of the behaviours under investigation (r<70%). Continuous weekly recordings during the day hours (8:00 to 17:00h) were shown to be sufficient to provide measurements of strong association with the 'true' duration of the behaviours for the given week

Marketing strategies for the primary sector : an empirical study

This study aims to profile the marketing strategies that sheep farmers follow in the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace (EMTh) in Greece and the County of Cornwall in U.K. based upon their distribution channel selection, farm and personal characteristics. A survey conducted to 343 and 240 sheep farmers in EMTh and Cornwall respectively. Farmers in EMTh follow three marketing strategies: (i) cost focus, (ii) production orientation and (iii) return focus strategy, while Cornish farmers adopt the: (i) production Orientation and (ii) differentiation strategy. There are many differences regarding their marketing orientation, distribution outlet selection, farm and farmer characteristics.peer-reviewe

Immigrants and media in Greece : an empirical investigation for the period 2002-2008

In Greece, since immigration is a very recent phenomenon, the rise of nationalist and racist speech through the media as well as the reproduction of negative stereotypes of immigrants is a serious issue that should be investigated. Especially after 2004, significant changes occurred regarding the recording of current news. The aim of this research is to present the treatment of immigrants by the media in Greece, to analyze the role that they play in formulating public opinion on immigration and to identify any changes that have occurred in the attitude of the media towards immigrants in recent years. A key tool was the systematic recording, of the Greek news (Greek-speaking, English-speaking) in the E Centre from 2002 until 2008.peer-reviewe

The Use of Internet and Social Networks During covid-19 in Greece

Human civilization has been transformed dramatically due to the increase of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The new digital era, and more particularly the digitization of information has contributed to many changes in all areas of life. More specifically the social relations among people developed new social and cultural structures. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic forced humanity to adopt digital technologies in most aspects of economic and social life. Internet, telework, remote work, and distance learning are now part of everyday life in society, and users of online social networks have increased dramatically in comparison with those of recent decades around the world. On the other hand, the situation that human experience due to the pandemic produced by COVID-19 disease may have increased the negative effects of excessive use of social networks. This study aims to explore the attitudes of Greek citizens toward the use of the Internet and social media before and during the pandemic. A primary survey on random 525 Greek citizens was conducted from September–November 2021. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to identify the main attitudes of Greek citizens toward the use of social media during COVID-19 era. Therefore, two main attitudes were derived from PCA: (a) use of social media to be informed, and (b) use of social media for entertainment. Cluster analysis was performed to classify those citizens into groups according to their attitudes toward the use of social networks during COVID-19 period. It identified three groups of citizens: (a) those who are indifferent to the use of social networks (b) those who use social networks mainly to be informed, and (c) those who use social networks only for entertainment. Following that, a Friedman nonparametric test was performed to determine the primary reasons why Greek citizens use the Internet and social networks prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonparametric tests, including the Chi-square and Friedman nonparametric tests were performed to develop the profile of each of the identified groups of citizens toward the main reasons they use the Internet and social networks, for what purposes, and their demographic characteristics. Keywords: social networks, Internet, COVID-1

Social Marketing and COVID-19 in Greece: What ``Millennials'' Think!

Social marketing has been developed to create a change in people’s attitudes toward the achievement of public health and social welfare. Social marketing techniques are used for health promotion, prevention of injuries, environmental protection, and social awareness. This study aims to explore the attitudes of Greek citizens toward the impact of social marketing techniques on their awareness of public health in general and their fight against COVID-19 in particular. A primary survey was conducted in May–June 2021 to a random sample of Greek citizens. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to identify the main attitudes of Greek millennials toward the impact of social marketing on people’s awareness regarding public health in general and the fight against COVID-19 in particular. Therefore, two main attitudes were derived from PCA: (a) social marketing contributed significantly into public awareness regarding public health issues and COVID-19 fight, and (b) some social marketing techniques had a negative impact on the use of vaccines as a protection measure toward COVID-19. Cluster analysis was performed to classify those citizens into groups according to their attitudes toward the use of social marketing in public health and COVID-19 issues. It identified three groups of citizens: (a) those who believe that social marketing has a significant impact on people’s awareness regarding public health and protection against COVID-19, (b) those who are uninterested, and (c) those who believe that social marketing contributes to the dissemination of negative information regarding vaccination against COVID19. Nonparametric tests, including the Chi-square and Friedman nonparametric tests were performed to develop the profile of those citizens. Keywords: social marketing, millennials, COVID-1

Feeding fermented liquid feed to the gestating sow can reduce pathogen challenge of the neonatal environment

This study demonstrated that the coliform and E. coli challenge to the newborn piglet can be reduced by feeding sows fermented liquid feed (FLF). The faeces excreted by sows fed FLF had significantly lower numbers of E. coli at parturition compared with sows fed non-fermented liquid feed (NFLF) and dry feed (DF). More importantly, significantly lower numbers of both coliforms and E. coli were found in the faeces of FLF-fed sows throughout the whole lactation period. The faecal Lactobacillus: E. coli ratio of piglets from FLF-fed mothers was significantly higher than for piglets born to DF-fed mothers. Higher Lactobacillus:E. coli ratio is usually associated with a bacterial flora that contributes to improved animal growth and performance