A Survey to Discover Current Food Choice Behaviors

Angelo Corallo, Maria Elena Latino, Marta Menegoli and Alessandra Spennato
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Angelo Corallo: Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Maria Elena Latino: Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Marta Menegoli: Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Alessandra Spennato: Innovation Engineering Department, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Food choices are complex functions of several elements that could change over time. Nowadays consumers appear careful about sustainable food consumption: the behavior of “food citizenship”, as the practice to support a sustainable food system during the consumption actions, arises. This study aims to recognize the existence of food choice behaviors in the contemporary scenario and to investigate the relation between the food choice factors and the behaviors recognized. Following a quantitative research method, a sample of 380 participants, recruited from a traditional Italian food and wine event, completed a questionnaire in order to detect their attitude about food. Four current food choice behaviors were recognized: The Individualist, The Foodie, The Environmentalist and The Health enthusiast. The relation between food choice factors and food choice behaviors was explained. Several stakeholders could benefit from the study results, in order to better understand how to adapt products and marketing strategies to satisfy the emerging customer’s needs and awareness. Even if a person can identify themselves within a single food choice behavior, they become aware of other choice models expanding their personal point of view. Finally, new research scenarios arose for the researchers.

Keywords: food choice behaviors; food choice; factors in food choice; cluster analysis; food trends (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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