Search

This article explores the emergence of metrosexuals among millennial men in five South-East Europe (SEE) countries and their subculture of consumption. It qualitatively studies their beliefs about masculinity and metrosexuality, and it identifies their purchasing behaviours' of grooming products online and offline by employing digital extended self-theory to provide strategic guidance for marketers and new insights for academics. This qualitative study includes ten semi-structured in-depth interviews and one hundred qualitative open-ended questionnaires. Additionally, it employs netnography to analyze the subculture of consumption of male metrosexuality in two representative blogs. The findings reveal that SEE millennial men embrace a dual identity, a traditional masculine identity, which co-exists with their metrosexuality, creating an emotional conflict as they differ along an accepted to extreme continuum. Metrosexual men are heavy users of personal grooming products favouring online purchasing (1) due to the frequent lack of retail availability in SEE countries and (2) their sense of embarrassment––the underlying emotional conflict. This study directly challenges the existing academic literature, which supports the dominance of traditional masculine identity among developing countries. For both marketers and academics, it presents a different market reality. Metrosexual males show a distinctly different self-identity online from offline. Social media provides them with a safe space, which is often subject to public embarrassment in offline settings. These findings have note-worthy implications for marketing practitioners including communication messaging, social media strategy, brand identity and presence, and product development. They provide insights for both practitioners and academics regarding the subculture of consumption of metrosexuals in the historically macho male-dominated SEE regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy is a way of eliminating the shortage of raw materials that Europe is currently facing. However, it is necessary to explicitly identify the problems that prevent greater involvement in the CE. This article is focused on consumers and how they treat discarded or non-functional items. The aim was to fill the research gap, i.e. to compile a suitable CE model and define a methodology that would ensure the efficient disposal of non-functional or unsuitable items by consumers. An original methodology was drawn up to conduct the representative research, designed to lead to the practical application of the proposed CE model. The research explored how consumers treat non-functional or unsuitable items, the costs they incur in discarding, renovating, reusing, and recycling such items, and the alternative costs of unsorted municipal waste. After the data had been implemented into the model the circular economy was proven to have an economic benefit for the national economy in all groups. However, the economic disadvantage for consumers was also calculated, where the cost of involvement in the CE is higher than the cost of unsorted municipal waste. This means that people are motivated to play a part in the CE more by their own responsible approach to life, or social pressure from those around them. Based on this research it may be said that economic aspects are one reason that consumers tend to be reluctant to get more involved in the CE. Unless there is a significant rise in the cost of municipal waste that would motivate consumers to move towards the CE for financial reasons, in order to support the CE consumers need to be better stimulated, educated and informed as much as possible through the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic food markets in Brazil, the U.S., and in Europe have distinct consolidation levels and growth potential. This research aims to reveal factors impacting these disparities and identify prospects for efficient exploration of the organic market. Surveys conducted via online questionnaires in these regions revealed health and nutrition as key drivers in Brazil, while the U.S., and Europe prioritize the environment and animal welfare concerns. Supporting local businesses is a common thread and high prices are a shared challenge. In Brazil, limited product availability and difficulties in finding desired products are significant barriers, potentially causing supply-demand imbalances and elevated prices. Notably, while > 70% of the consumers in Europe and the U.S. buy organic goods from supermarkets, only 45% do so in Brazil; 44% prefer direct purchases from farmers due to scarcity or cost considerations. This study underscores untapped potential in Brazil's organic food market and offers insights for farmers and retailers in all regions. Our results can support stakeholders to tailor strategies to boost organic food consumption and capitalize on latent opportunities in these markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate how supporters perceive and react to environmental messages that call for reducing the environmental impact of sporting events. Based on prospect theory, we randomly provided 1423 supporters attending football events in Europe with (1) a negative (perceived loss for supporters), (2) a neutral (no perceived gain or loss) or a (3) a positive (perceived gain for supporters) environmental message and measured their attitudes towards the message, pro‐environmental behavioural intentions and perceived consumer effectiveness. Our results reveal that supporters show traits of collective behaviour during sports events that may lower the in‐stadium effectiveness of environmental messages. The environmental commitment of the favoured sports club increases the influence of green marketing on supporters with higher levels of environmental values and knowledge, but only when they depart from a collective identity. This paper contributes to green marketing literature revealing that modelling collective behaviours of members of groups exposed to highly emotional situations should be coordinated with information and awareness‐raising campaigns in everyday life. We also contribute to the prospect theory showing that loss aversion prevails in risk‐free conditions even though it does not directly shape supporters' behavioural intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving landscape of e-commerce, digital skills serve as a fundamental determinant of effective engagement, influencing the overall online purchasing experience and the ability to address encountered problems. This research, based on Eurostat data for 2021 across 36 European countries, employs quantitative methods, including correlations and regression, to explore the relationship between the level of digital skills, internet purchasing behavior, and the reporting of problems. The study reveals a positive correlation, indicating that a higher level of digital skills is associated with increased internet purchasing. Additionally, individuals with lower digital skills are more likely to refrain from reporting problems during online transactions. These findings offer valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers, highlighting the pivotal role of digital skills in fostering positive online interactions and shaping strategies for a seamless e-commerce experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer attitudes and behaviour regarding consumption of plastic goods and proper waste management are of importance for reducing plastic and microplastic (MP) pollution. Therefore, based on Eurobarometer survey, this study aims to analyse European attitudes and behaviour related to plastic pollution reduction. Europeans acknowledge marine and river pollution as important environmental problems and are worried about plastics and MP environmental impacts. However, this does not translate into related plastic reduction behaviours. Regression analysis show that analysed behaviours are likely to be undertaken by women, younger, with higher incomes respondents and by those who express higher worry about plastic and MP environmental impacts. Industry and big companies are seen as having the main role in reducing plastic waste and littering, chargers for single use plastics being less important. Respondents also stress the role of education. Hence, focus on concrete steps to reduce plastic waste, highlighting the interaction of individual actions and environment should be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered consumer behavior, making social commerce a viable alternative throughout the world. Europe is trailing the US and China in adopting this technology, but the prognosis is encouraging. Our goal is to contribute to this process by offering a literature review on social commerce in Europe for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. We analyzed 4.764 articles published during the 2015–2023 period on the topic of social commerce in Europe utilizing the PRISMA flow diagram. After scrutinizing this large body of literature with various instruments including artificial intelligence (AI), we identified a final list of 45 articles that are most pertinent to our research questions. The emerging themes were that social media is shaping behavior and triggering buying intentions, that trust is paramount in buying impulses and behavior, and that success in social commerce is predicated upon relationships and engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With great cultural significance, spirits and distillate beverages constitute an important niche market in Europe. The development of new food products, particularly for the functionalization of these beverages, is increasing exponentially. The present work aimed to develop a new wine spirit beverage aged with almond shells and flowers of P. tridentatum for further characterization of bioactive and phenolic compounds, coupled with a sensorial study to evaluate the acceptance of this new product by the market. Twenty-one phenolic compounds were identified, mainly isoflavonoids and O- and C-glycosylated flavonoids, especially in P. tridentatum flowers, indicating that it is a highly aromatizing agent. The developed liqueur and wine spirits (almonds and flowers) showed distinct physicochemical properties, with the last two samples showing greater appreciation and purchase intention by consumers due to their sweetness and smoothness. The most promising results were found for the carqueja flower, which should be further investigated in an industrial context to contribute to its valorization in its regions of origin, such as Beira Interior and Trás-os-Montes (Portugal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deception in online advertising is not uncommon. An example of deceptive advertising, sometimes used by online retailers to drive traffic to their Web sites, is omission in discount advertising. It is a tactic in which an important condition for a discount on a product or service is (purposefully) excluded when advertised online—only to reveal the initially excluded condition to consumers once they have reached the retailer's Web site. The purpose of this study was to examine how such omission in discount advertising influences purchase intention, and to what extent this effect is mediated by perceived retailer ethics and attitude toward the online retailer. To test our hypotheses, we conducted an experiment (N = 117) with a single-factor (omission in discount advertising: omission vs. control) between-subjects design. Perceived retailer ethics and attitude toward the online retailer were included as serial mediators. The results showed that omission in discount advertising negatively affected purchase intention. Furthermore, this effect was mediated by perceived retailer ethics and attitude toward the retailer, whereby participants who were exposed to the omission advertisement judged the retailer's ethics more negatively and consequently had a more negative attitude toward the retailer. This, indirectly, decreased purchase intention. This study provides evidence for a novel and parsimonious framework explaining the effect of omission in discount advertising on purchase intention, through perceived retailer ethics and attitude toward the online retailer, which is relevant for both theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern business conditions require the formation of new management tools, particularly in the financial sphere. Under such conditions, the issue of effective taxation is gaining special relevance. Traditionally, the tax system of any country consists of direct and indirect taxes. In recent years, issues related to managing indirect taxes – such as VAT, GST, customs and excise duties – have risen on the corporate agenda. However, there is currently no universal model for the ratio of direct and indirect taxes, because there are a significant number of factors that affect the level of budget filling and payment administration. The article is devoted to the study of indirect taxation in EU countries. Indirect taxes are an increasingly essential source of revenue for governments worldwide. Indirect taxes are generally simple, both for the government to levy and collect since they are applied broadly and automatically included in purchases. This does not mean that these taxes are transparent. Gross receipts taxes lead to tax pyramiding, while sales taxes are clearly marked on invoices and receipts. Indirect taxes, like value-added taxes (VAT) and retail sales taxes, can be neutral because they have little effect on consumer behaviour and apply to all business models the same. Indirect taxes like excise taxes are not neutral because they target specific industries and activities, like cigarettes and alcohol. The article examines the types of indirect taxes, the main trends in the formation of indirect taxation, and its legal regulation in EU countries. It was determined that taxes on production and imports (indirect taxes) and imports accounted for 13.8% of GDP. Based on the results of the study, the main areas of harmonization of indirect taxes in Europe were formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative advertising, the legislative regulation of which has long discouraged European companies from using it, has become an essential component of promotion in recent decades, although the approach of individual countries to it differs significantly and its influence varies depending on the cultural aspect, or the age of the recipients. The study deals with Generation Z, which differs from previous generations in general, and therefore it is not possible to use the same procedures and methods for them as for the rest of the population. The aim of the study was to find out whether comparative advertising is suitable for Generation Z as an extraordinary cohort and whether this segment of potential customers can be considered as a homogeneous group or a heterogeneous object for business marketing communication. It was determined whether Generation Z trusts this type of advertisement (ad believability) and whether this advertisement positively affects their purchase behaviour (purchase intention). Due to the nature of the research objectives, one-dimensional descriptive statistics and two-dimensional descriptive statistics for the evaluation of interdependent variables (Chi-square test) were used. Based on our research, it can be argued that Generation Z perceives comparative advertising differently from the rest of the population and cannot be subjected to the same processes as other generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial paper tackles the issue of the consumer attitudes toward energy reduction and changing energy consumption behaviors. This topic is of special relevance today as Europe faces an unprecedented energy crisis as a result of diverting from Russian supplies of oil and gas due to the war in Ukraine. For many years now, Europe has relied upon cheap and affordable Russian oil and gas (in fact, the European Green Deal and the strategy for the decarbonization of the economy by 2030 were indirectly based on it), but the transition to the renewable future now appears to be jeopardized. As energy prices are soaring globally, it is not yet clear whether this would have an effect on significantly changing consumer behavior and increasing energy efficiency and security as many consumers are reluctant to change their old habits and are used to having their energy on demand and for any possible occasion. However, changing energy consumption behaviors would be beneficial not only for handling the current energy crisis but also for setting the long-term trends with respect to energy saving, which is crucial for fighting global warming and climate change while sustaining economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Business Consultant / Poslovni Konsultant is the property of FINconsult Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Attitudes towards meats significantly affect PB meat behavioral intentions. • 30% of participants were likely to use & trust social media information on PB food. • Social media use & trust mediate meat reduction attitudes and behavioral intentions. • Social media can reinforce the shift to PB meat alternatives in the EU. The environmental challenges associated with meat production and consumption have driven the rise of new plant-based (PB) meats. However, PB meat consumption among Europeans remains low. One of the main barriers to the consumption of PB foods is the consumers' need for information. Social media (SM) can help rapidly disseminate a wide range of information. Yet, misinformation in these channels raises concerns about consumers' trust. Therefore, this study examined whether involvement in SM mediates the relationship between beliefs, attitudes and intentions towards reducing meat consumption and PB meat behavioral intentions, particularly for omnivores and flexitarians. Data were collected from 10 European countries (n = 6869). Two SM-related factors, namely the likelihood of using SM to find information about PB foods and trust in information about PB foods from SM were designated as mediators. At least 30 % of the respondents were more likely to use and trust information on PB food from SM. The mediation analyses revealed significant partial mediation (p < 0.001) with respect to the direct effect between beliefs, attitudes and intentions towards meat reduction and the indirect effects of the mediators on PB meat behavioral intentions. This study builds upon how SM shape the behavioral intentions towards PB meat consumption and the meat reducing attitudes of Europeans. The results also provide evidence on how SM can promote European consumers' behavioral intentions for PB meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet usage data from around the globe show that adolescents are the most frequent Internet users, but mostly for leisure activities and maintaining social contacts. In the present study, we focused on Internet use for e-services, which could improve youth efficiency in the financial domain (responsible consumer behaviour) and bridge the online divide in youth. Specifically, we explored how societal constructs (namely, institutional trust and personal values) influence the use of the Internet for online shopping, e-banking and communication with providers of goods and services online. We used a representative sample of adolescents (N = 10.902) from 10 countries of Southeast Europe where a great variability in Internet use is present, and where the use of e-services is generally lower than the EU average. This also allowed for meaningful cross-country comparisons. We tested a structural equation model of values predicting the use of the Internet through institutional trust (including some relevant demographic variables such as settlement size, SES and Internet use frequency) which was grounded in social capital theory, cultural theory and Schwartz human values model. The model exhibited a good fit to the data but the strengths of regressional paths were rather modest. Looking into the cross-country stability of the model, however, revealed some notable differences: while the relationship between trust and use of the Internet for e-services was modest in some countries, the relationship was insignificant in other countries, where Internet usage is lower in general. This suggests that strategies aimed at leveraging e-services and digital technology potential in youth should also account for cultural specificities in the transitional economies and cultural settings with sub-optimal adoption of digital services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several factors drive consumer behavior in buying meat, particularly rabbit meat. The consumption of rabbits has decreased in Europe, and the main causes of this trend are an increasing association with the perception of rabbits as pets, consumers' changes in lifestyle, and eating habits. Additionally, increasing attention is paid to ethical issues regarding animal welfare. Investigating consumers' knowledge, perceptions, and concerns about rabbit meat production and consumption are crucial for improving market strategies. This study investigated consumers' perspectives of rabbit meat to provide useful information to producers for promoting this sector to consumers. A mixed-methods research design was applied. Qualitative data were collected through four focus group discussions involving 32 consumers and quantitative data through a semi-structured questionnaire administered nationally and completed by 1001 consumers. The limited use of antibiotics in inbreeding and the absence of animal suffering are factors that most influence consumers' willingness to purchase rabbit meat. Rural/domestic farms were recognized as places where animal welfare measures can be applied and have a positive influence not only on organoleptic quality but also on ethical value and food safety. The cage was perceived as unsuitable for rabbit growth and was oriented to a process of fattening based on industrial feed and antibiotics. Respondents sought information on rabbit farming during purchase, and the label was the most used tool. The rabbit meat production sector should consider these results to meet consumers' demands and raise awareness among operators on the use of animal welfare-based farming systems, helping to build a more positive image of the rabbit meat industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general data protection regulation (GDPR) represents a dramatic shift in global privacy regulation. We focus on GDPR's enhanced consumer consent requirements that aim to provide transparent and active elicitation of data allowances. We evaluate the effect of enhanced consent on consumer opt-in behavior and on firm behavior and outcomes after consent is solicited. Utilizing an experiment at a large telecommunications provider with operations in Europe, we find that opt-in for different data types and uses increased once GDPR-compliant consent was elicited. However, consumers did not uniformly increase data allowances and continued to generally restrict permissions for more sensitive or tangential uses of their personal information. We also find that sales, the efficacy of marketing communications, and contractual lock-in increased after consumers provided new data allowances. Additional analysis suggests that these gains to the firm emerged because new data allowances enabled them to increase their use of targeted marketing for households that were amenable to these marketing efforts. These results have significant implications for firms and policymakers and suggest that enhanced consent provided via GDPR may be effective for increasing consumer privacy protection while also allowing firms reliant on consumers' personal information to improve outcomes. This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic has strongly affected different issues of everyday life. The pandemic has changed consumer attitudes and behavior. Consequently, during COVID-19, businesses had to decide how to organize the advertising campaigns and what content should be addressed to consumers. Considering the limited number of articles concerning these issues, it seems important to evaluate the impact of the global health crisis on advertising messages in different countries. The main objective of this paper is to assess TV commercial campaigns implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the specific epidemic situation in the selected countries. The research methodology was based on the observation, a qualitative method of collecting data obtained through monitoring the content of TV commercials aired during the afternoon, before or after the main news service. The research was conducted in May 2020 and in May 2021 in five selected European countries affected to varying degrees by the coronavirus pandemic. The research results allowed evaluation of the advertising messages in terms of their content and values exposed. The findings indicate that the number of COVID-related TV commercials is not correlated with the number of patients and deaths from COVID-19. The themes appearing the most often in the TV commercials in the studied period were the #StayAtHome idea, family and friends, the aspect of safety during the crisis, and brands' special offers. The tone of the advertisements was usually uplifting and hopeful, trying to cheer the stressed societies. From a theoretical perspective, the research results show the advertising strategy issues in specific conditions in different European countries. These findings concerning TV commercial strategy during a pandemic crisis could provide references for other countries, especially in Europe. The research results could be useful for marketing managers in developing strategies concerning the successful planning of TV commercials in crisis periods in European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the effectiveness of four types of front-of-pack nutrition labels (FoPLs) in influencing calorie purchases. The four FoPL types are poised for unified implementation across European countries. Further, this study extends its analysis to evaluate the impacts of the voluntary adoption of these FoPLs within 27 EU nations. Nutri-Score displays higher potential for yielding positive health and economic outcomes, compared with other FoPLs. Across EU countries, Nutri-Score is projected to avert nearly two million cases of non-communicable diseases, in total, between 2023 and 2050. Keyhole demonstrates effects of a similar magnitude but with no statistical significance. Nutri-Repere shows smaller impacts, while Nutri-Couleurs has non-significant effects. Nutri-Score is projected to significantly lower annual healthcare spending by 0.05%, whereas the other labels have negligible impacts. By reducing cases of disease, FoPLs have the potential to improve employment and work productivity. Nutri-Score surpasses the other labels with an estimated annual gain of 10.6 full-time equivalent workers per 100,000 individuals of working age across EU countries. In all, mandatory implementation of any of the four labels would lead to greater effects than those obtained with a voluntary implementation, providing evidence to inform legislation proposal for an EU-wide nutrition labelling system., (© 2024 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

The Article defends the actor’s mask training from the reformist trends that consider the mask study to be no longer necessary or topical. The author identifies one of the causes of this attitude in the purpose of higher education in Europe that has changed in the recent years. Students are unfortunately encouraged to have employment-focused consumer behaviours, therefore are more concerned with the results than with the process of learning and personal development. Specifically, the question arises whether academic studies, theatre, in this case, are intended only for the training of future employees or, without excluding, of course, this goal, they are rather ways to model behaviours, to (in)-form the spirit, to educate critical thinking and, last but not least, to endow students with an ethos that will allow them to be, as future theatre artists, spokesmen of free expression, the “mirror of the times”? The study continues with a brief exposition of the principles, themes and benefits of mask training. In the final part, the author presents the results of a mini-survey among graduates of the Cluj theatre school, questioned about the role of mask studies in their professional careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable interest among consumers in using 'natural', plant-based nutritional supplements for their purported health benefits. However, the data required to support health claims on these so-called botanicals is subject to an ongoing debate, especially in Europe. Remarkably, pharmaceutical regulations have a provision that sometimes makes it possible to include data on 'traditional use' in the approval process. In this critical perspective, we elaborate why substantiation of health benefits with evidence on traditional use is not easy to apply for food products. This is highlighted by the examples of recent incidents with traditional herbal substances such as kava kava and ephedra. These examples demonstrate that safety considerations, which are explicitly considered in the assessment of traditional herbal medicinal products, deserve special attention, and cannot be disregarded in food products that have health claims based on traditional use. Unexpected safety-related problems may arise when consumers combine botanicals with (prescribed) pharmaceutical products or specific nutrients, as it is often unlikely that such interactions will have been identified during traditional use. Information on both the safety and the health benefits are key to enable consumers to make the best decision for their personal health. As current legislative requirements for food products do not provide the opportunity to include both effectiveness and safety in the assessment, it is questionable whether and how traditional use evidence can be used under the current regulatory framework for health claims on foods. • Botanical health claims are on hold pending a decision upon the substantiation. • Traditional consumption habits can differ from modern consumption methods. • Exposure to more different substances increases the potential for interactions. • Safety must be considered when substantiating efficacy with data on traditional use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. In this study, a model is developed for making purchasing decisions by consumers on the travel agency market. Method. Research on the purchasing process by tourists was carried out applying the diagnostic survey method. Making efforts to ensure that research on the behaviour of consumers regarding tourist services and determinants concerning participation of Polish society in tourism are characterised by reliability, the selection of the sample was purpose-specific, while the control variables were region, gender, type of residence (city, village) and age. The community structure was determined as 0.01% of the entire Polish population (precisely, 3,071 persons). Data from the surveys were developed in the Statistica 13.3 program using the logistic regression model. Findings. Prior travel traditions, fashion and desire to rest influence the need to travel. Stimulating the need for travel is necessary to start the purchasing process by a potential consumer of tourist services. When choosing a travel agency, potential tourists are mainly guided by a wide range of tourist services catalogues, the number and attractiveness of last-minute offers, as well as trip safety. However, to attract loyal customers, a travel agency should primarily take care of after-sales contact, send birthday and holiday wishes to its clients, efficiently respond to all types of queries, and quickly and reliably respond to complaints. They should also make sure the website of their travel agency is interesting. Research and conclusions limitations. The characteristics of the participants constitute a limitation, as they all come from Poland. Therefore, future research must replicate this study with residents from other geographical and cultural contexts to generalise the present findings to Europe. According to some researchers, using multiple regression analysis and null hypothesis significance testing is not an appropriate scientific practice. Better results are presumed to be obtained by using asymmetric case outcome modelling. Practical implications. The research results may be helpful for travel agency executives and other tourism entrepreneurs. Knowing the factors that influence the choice of a travel agency and the correct after-sales contact with the tourist will help tour operators gain regular customers. Originality. The innovativeness of the work concerns developing a new graphic model of tourist behaviour on the travel agency market. To indicate the determinants of travel, factors influencing the purchase process and the choice of travel agencies, and how the post-sale contact between tour operators and tourists should be conducted. Type of paper. In the article, the results of empirical research are presented, based on which the theoretical model of tourist behaviour on the travel agency market was created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Cycling is one of the most popular and practiced sports both in Europe and globally. However, management studies aimed at defining cyclists' consumption behavior are still limited. The most recent contributions describe cycling consumption as an activity heavily influenced by the intensity and sociality of its practice but do not highlight the importance of expenditures related to participation in amateur cycling events and cycle tourism experiences. Starting from these behavioral dimensions, the article proposes an original segmentation of the sport and leisure market, leading to the identification of different profiles of amateur cyclists. Material and methods. The research was conducted on a sample of 182 cyclists located in one single Italian region to ensure a high level of social, economic and cultural uniformity. The data was collected by conducting a questionnaire, and its resulting information relating to sport and consumer behavior was processed through a cluster analysis procedure. Results. The results reveal the existence of five different amateur cyclists' profiles (the parsimonious, the competitive, the ostentatious, the sociable and the experiential), each distinguished by specific behavior in terms of the intensity and way of conducting the sports activity and the propensity to incur different types of expenditure. Conclusions. From a theoretical point of view, the results confirm the effectiveness of behavioral segmentation in the market of sports consumption. From an operational point of view, they provide useful marketing indications for businesses operating in the sport-system chain and destination management operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Current patterns of household goods consumption generate relevant environmental pressures and impacts. Environmental impacts are not only limited to the European territory but also to third countries from where products are imported. Assessing the entire life cycle of products enables considering trade-related transboundary effects along supply chains. The goal of this paper is to illustrate the assessment of the environmental impacts of household goods consumption in Europe, modelled through the consumption footprint indicator. Methods: The consumption footprint indicator was designed to assess the environmental impact of household consumption by covering five areas of consumption (food, mobility, housing, household goods and appliances), each of them modelled as a basket of products (BoP) representing the most consumed products by EU citizens. This paper focuses on the BoP household goods, entailing a large variety of products from clothes to personal care products. Consumption intensity was obtained from consumption statistical data for years 2010 and 2015. Life cycle inventory data for 30 representative products were obtained from EU Ecolabel background reports, screening reports of the Product Environmental Footprint pilots and literature. The 16 impact categories of the Environmental Footprint 3.0 method were employed for the impact assessment. Results and discussion: Main impacts generated by household goods in EU (calculated after normalization and weighting) were on climate change, fossil resource use and water use. Components' manufacture was the most impacting stage for several impact categories. Paper products, detergents, furniture and clothes were the product groups contributing the most due to a combination of consumption intensity and environmental profile of products. Environmental impacts due to household goods consumption were higher in 2015 than in 2010. Conclusions: The impacts of EU household goods consumption are driven by both consumption intensity and the environmental impact profile of products. Therefore, sustainable actions should focus not only on the environmental profile of products, but also on consumer choices and behaviours. Recommendations: The BoP household goods model can be used as a baseline to assess the effect of consumer choices, by creating and comparing consumers' profiles that differ in the composition of the BoP and in the apparent consumption (defined as Production—Exports + Imports). The availability of detailed inventories for all the life cycle phases allows for modelling scenarios to assess the potential effect of innovations in the production phase and of the choice of alternative raw materials and ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main question we are dealing with in the work is how to adapt the traders of agricultural products, energy products from the Russian Federation and Ukraine to the crisis caused by the Russian "special military intervention" and the introduction of various packages of sanctions against the Russian Federation and how the resulting crisis affects Europe, Africa and Asia. Given that in crisis situations, very little attention is paid to marketing activities towards consumers, because the resulting changes affect decision-making and purchasing behavior in different ways. During a crisis, communication with clients is not usual because good practices are not established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent statistical data and market studies have shown that the microgreens market is on a continuously upward trend in Europe and globally due to their healthier and nutritious qualities and for fast adoption of indoor and vertical farming especially in the cities. Worldwide the microgreens become of great interest due to their benefits for people`s health and beauty, being 40 times more nutritious than mature vegetables, increasing also the amount of available space that might be put into food production, with environmental benefits and economic profitability. The evolution of microgreens market to its real development potential depends of consumers behaviour and income level. Microgreens are considered ‘desert food’ by their huge potential to provide food in marginal areas affected by climate change becoming a part of sustainable farming. The present study pursued the evaluation of microgreens global market trends and forward statements in order to identify them as a potential profitable business in the era of Covid 19 pandemic when farmers should adapt food production to the new economic and social contexts. The study showed an increased consumer interest for “healthy” products, so that the change according to their behaviour shall generate an increase in the microgreens market worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is about the role of consumers' personal values (Self-enhancement, Openness to change, Self-transcendence, and Conservation) in consumers' interest towards meat alternatives. In addition, the underlying role of two social motives, status and group affiliation are analysed. A conceptual model with hypotheses was developed and validated, and the hypotheses were tested through PLS-SEM with data from four European countries (Finland, the UK, Germany, and Sweden, total N = 3600). The results show that self-focused personal values (Self-enhancement and Openness to change) are not associated with consumers' interest towards meat alternatives. The case is different with other-focused values. Self-transcendence had a positive connection to interest while Conservation had a negative relationship. Finally, the data suggest an underlying role of social motive status between Self-enhancement and interest and the same for group affiliation between Self-transcendence and Conservation and interest. Based on the results, strategies to support meat alternative adoption such as value activation through priming, cognition and emotion-driven marketing are proposed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Increasing technological advancements and changing consumer behavior has resulted in individuals having access to a wider range of online gambling markets and sporting events than ever before. Sports betting in real time has been aided by the accessibility of smartphone devices. Consequently, the popularity of live sports betting (i.e., 'in-play' betting) has spread across Europe and around the rest of world. The aim of the present exploratory study was to examine attitudes and opinions towards online sports betting. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 males and 2 females aged between 21 and 32 years. Participants were asked a range of semi-structured interview questions based on pre-determined topic areas. Socio-demographic data were collected and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was used to assess problem gambling. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis in order to identify themes. Analysis of the transcripts identified several notable areas including the ease of engaging in in-play sports betting, motivations for engaging in in-play sports betting (including increased excitement, demonstrating knowledge/skill and response to live odds), and different reasons for using the 'cash-out' feature. The findings will contribute to the design of future research investigating in-play sports betting behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pork is, by far, the most consumed meat in Europe, with almost half of the total meat consumption. In this context, the present study aims to offer an updated perspective on the pork meat sector, bringing to the fore the contribution of consumer behavior to the sustainability of the meat sector, as reflected in the scientific literature. Furthermore, based on the reviewed literature, it can be inferred that labeling the credence claims (e.g., organic, country of origin, fair trade, free-range, or animal welfare) could represent a competitive market advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workers' wellbeing at work is a central theme for the development of institutions and enterprises. Within this debate, a central issue relates to the search for the best ways to organize lunch-breaks and food services for employees. In the past, canteens had a crucial role for workers, yet the last twenty years have marked a profound transformation of the European economy, with the effect of diversifying workers' foodways and their food-related practices while at work. Based on the research "Eating at Work" conducted by the University of Gastronomic Sciences in 2015–2016, this paper analyses the consumer behavior at lunch of almost 9400 workers, from ten different European countries. By exploring the workers' foodways during lunch-breaks and how they answer to their individual needs in terms of nutrition, socialization, productivity and overall satisfaction, the paper points out that the lunch-break has major implications in boosting wellbeing at work, thus suggesting the essential role canteens have the potential to carry out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade the turnover for bottled water has been rising. Moreover, the quality of tap water in most European countries is high, while Ukraine shows an opposite trend. Considering these conditions, it is vital to study the bottled water consumption trends so as to provide its production and purchase. So, the aim of this article is to research and compare bottled water consumers’ behavior in Europe and Ukraine. The information research base were the materials presented by: European Federation of Bottled Waters, State Statistics Service of Ukraine, statistic portals, such as Statista and Euromonitor, and the data from scientists and publishers around the world. It was decided to use the method of bottled water consumers’ markets comparison in leading European countries. Furthermore, the water consumption was processed via descriptive statistical analysis of personal online survey among 600 respondents aged 18 - 60 with higher education and own income source, who live in the most developed regions of Ukraine, Europe and the world. The highest bottled water consumption rate among the European countries is fixed in Italy and Germany, which is the influence of old local traditions. Moreover, its consumption per capita in Western Europe is more than 3 times higher than in Eastern Europe. For example, Croatians are skeptical towards bottled water due to massive anti-plastic campaign and high quality of tap water. As for Ukraine, bottled water is a favorite soft drink for the majority of its population. Today the largest volume of its annual consumption per person (63 L) is recorded in Kyiv. However, this indicator across the whole Ukraine is 15 L on average, while leading European countries show the consumption of nearly 160 L a year per capita. It is explained by the weak bottled water drinking culture, lower income lever compared to Europe and aversion to plastic. On the other hand, a quarter of surveyed Ukrainians drink bottled water for medical purposes, which is not typical of Europeans. Moreover, Ukrainians and Europeans have the common features concerning water selection. Firstly, most males prefer highly carbonated water, while females opt for non-carbonated one. Secondly, bottled water is mostly preferred by people older than 25, and its main brand selection criteria are taste and ability to quench the thirst. Unlike Europe, Ukraine shows the weak level of bottled water consumption behavior. On the other hand, it is the favourite soft beverage among Ukrainians aged 26 and above. In addition to this, Ukraine’s tap water has very low quality, but there are nearly 500 mineral water springs. Furthermore, the tastes and preferences of Ukrainians and Europeans are mostly the same. Due to these factors there are opportunities for bottled water consumption development in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous mobile health apps are marketed globally, and these have specific features including physical activity tracking, motivational feedback, and recipe provision. It is important to understand which features individuals prefer and whether these preferences differ between consumer groups., Objective: In this study, we aimed to identify consumers' most preferred features and rewards for a mobile app that targets healthy eating and physical activity and to reduce the number of individual mobile health app features to a smaller number of key categories as perceived by consumers. In addition, we investigated the impact of differences in consumers' BMI and self-efficacy on their intention to use and willingness to pay for such an app. Finally, we identified the characteristics of different target groups of consumers and their responses toward app features via cluster analysis., Methods: A total of 212 participants from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany were recruited via the web to answer questions about app features, motivation, self-efficacy, demographics, and geographic factors. It is important to note that our study included an evenly distributed sample of people in the age range of 23 to 50 years (23-35 and 35-50 years). The app features in question were generated from a 14-day cocreation session by a group of consumers from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland., Results: "Home work out suggestions," "exercise tips," and "progress charts" were the most preferred app features, whereas "gift vouchers" and "shopping discounts" were the most preferred rewards. "Connections with other communication apps" was the least preferred feature, and "charitable giving" was the least preferred reward. Importantly, consumers' positive attitude toward the "social support and connectedness and mindfulness" app feature predicted willingness to pay for such an app (β=.229; P=.004). Differences in consumers' health status, motivational factors, and basic demographics moderated these results and consumers' intention to use and willingness to pay for such an app. Notably, younger and more motivated consumers with more experience and knowledge about health apps indicated more positive attitudes and intentions to use and willingness to pay for this type of app., Conclusions: This study indicated that consumers tend to prefer app features that are activity based and demonstrate progress. It also suggested a potential role for monetary rewards in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. Moreover, the results highlighted the role of consumers' health status, motivational factors, and socioeconomic status in predicting their app use. These results provide up-to-date, practical, and pragmatic information for the future design and operation of mobile health apps., (©Bahram Mahmoodi Kahriz, Sarah Snuggs, Anumeha Sah, Sophie Clot, Daniel Lamport, Joseph Forrest, Agnes Helme-Guizon, Marie-Claire Wilhelm, Cindy Caldara, Camille Valentine Anin, Julia Vogt. Originally published in JMIR Human Factors (https://humanfactors.jmir.org), 11.12.2023.)

The present research aimed to study the consumption of socially responsible food consumption products in order to identify the elements on which European companies must base their success strategies in the next future. This research suggests both information about this particular kind of consumption and factors that determine their purchase through statistical techniques for testing and estimating causal relations, using data derived from carried out sample survey. Above all, the factor analysis and the cluster analysis are used for the aim of the study. The proposed study shows that socially responsible consumption is especially linked to knowledge and impact on socio-environmental context. Moreover, it was possible to identify three kinds of consumer under investigation: the agree one (41% of the sample), with highest level of perceived expectation about salubrity and willingness to pay; the half-agree one (13%), with lowest level of knowledge on socio-environmental policies but highest level of satisfaction; the disagree one (46%), with negative relationship with all of the factors, particularly with salubrity. The research considers a topic not addressed in details; moreover, it is also based on own previous research and is its natural continuation and deepening, but also important for future researches. Unlabelled Image • CSR is an important issue, especially in food industry. This study evaluate the effect of firms' SRF behavior on consumer choice. • The sample was analyzed with multivariate statistical methods to interpret the variables that affect European food consumer behavior according to specific indicators. • A cluster analysis was done to segment the customers. It is possible to underline important information about responsible food consumption in Europe. • The proposed study shows that socially responsible consumption is especially linked to knowledge and impact on socio-environmental context. • The study is able to be used in planning effective and efficient business policy actions for food consumption in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite an extensive market segmentation literature, applied academic studies which bridge segmentation theory and practice remain a priority for researchers. The need for studies which examine the segmentation implementation barriers faced by organisations is particularly acute. We explore segmentation implementation through the eyes of a European utilities business, by following its progress through a major segmentation project. The study reveals the character and impact of implementation barriers occurring at different stages in the segmentation process. By classifying the barriers, we develop implementation "rules" for practitioners which are designed to minimise their occurrence and impact. We further contribute to the literature by developing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which these implementation rules can be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article empirically studies consumer choice behavior with respect to store brands in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Store-brand market shares differ by country and are usually much higher in Europe than in the United States. The authors study the notion that the differential success of store brands in the United States and Europe is the higher brand equity that store brands command in Europe than in the United States. They use a framework based on consumer brand choice under uncertainty and brands as signals of product positions to conduct their analysis. More specifically, they examine whether uncertainty about quality (or the positioning of the brand in the product space); perceived quality of store brands versus national brands; consistency in store-brand offerings over time; and consumer attitudes toward risk, quality, and price underlie the differential success of store brands at least partially in the United States and Europe. The authors' model is estimated on scanner panel data on laundry detergent in the U.S., U.K., and Spanish markets and on toilet paper and margarine data in the U.S. and Spanish markets.The authors find that consumer learning and perceived risk (and associated brand equity), as well as consumer attitude toward risk, quality, and price, play an important role in consumers' store-brand and national brand choices and contribute to the differences in relative success of store brands across the countries studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises the results of an investigation of willingness to pay (WTP) for new vaccines. The vaccines considered are for infections with several subtypes. One option is to cover a broad combination of these within one vaccine although this is associated with additional development complexities. The associated durations of effect of such vaccines are not yet known; therefore the impact of variations in this and the subtype coverage, as well as that of opting for a non-reimbursement status, were among the issues that needed to be assessed. One important group for a determination of WTP is parents, in that they could be paying for vaccination of themselves and/or their children. This paper reports the findings of WTP among this group for their children for alternative outcomes in the vaccine product profile. For reasons of confidentiality, results from only this group in the context of paying for their children are reported. The exact wording of the product features tested have also been changed for the same reason. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission ask for a unified Front Of Pack nutritional label for food to be used at the European level. The scientific debate identified the Nutri-Score (NS) as the most promising candidate, but within the political discussion, some Member States brought to attention several issues related to its introduction. This misalignment led to a postponement of the final decision. With the aim to shed some light on the current stances and contribute to the forthcoming debate, the objective of the present work is to understand to what extent scientific research addresses the issues raised by the general public. We applied a structural topic model to tweets from four European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and to abstracts of scientific papers, all dealing with the NS topic. Different aspects of the NS debate are discussed in different countries, but scientific research, while addressing some of them (e.g., the comparison between NS and other labels), disregards others (e.g., relations between NS and traditional products). It is advisable, therefore, to widen the scope of NS research to properly address the concerns of European society and to provide policymakers with robust evidence to support their decisions.

This article considers the issue of the globalization of brands, relating the concept to the European arena. While the evidence for global brands is mixed, in Europe the opening up of the Single Market suggests opportunities for marketers to reap the benefits of harmonization of laws relating to advertising, the development of pan-European media, and "reciprocity." Through empirical research of the 100 top UK brands in consumer non-durables, this study examines the preponderance of pan-European brands and discovers what modifications are needed to the marketing strategy of a brand to achieve pan-European sales. It also presents the factors that are considered to have most influenced these modifications. A definition of the term "pan-European," from the point of view of the respondents themselves, is also offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodologies for analysis of industrial marketing decision systems are extended to allow systematic comparisons over decisions and over firms. Three such systems used by two firms to price and plan volumes for the French market are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on studies dealing with the transfer of marketing strategy to determine the effect of national identity on multinational promotional strategy in Europe. The author focuses on analyzing data collected on a series of failed marketing campaigns initiated by corporations in the U.S. It is suggested that the failed campaigns, which were targeted at European consumers, signal a shift in consumer preferences in European countries. Data from another study illustrates that a decline in the influence of international print and broadcast media in countries including Scotland and France is the result of a resurgence of national identity in Northern European nations. The author also discusses decision making variables that impact marketing strategy and sales promotion.

Environmental rating ecolabels are a new generation of ecolabels. They are intended to enable consumers to compare the environmental impacts of multiple products and make more sustainable consumption choices. Falling outside of the three types defined in the ISO 14020 environmental label and declarations series, the recent proliferation of these business-to-consumer communication instruments has resulted in the creation of a plethora of methodologies to derive product performance ratings. Interest from consumers wanting more information on the products they purchase, as well as the promise of policy instruments aiming to increase transparency and combat greenwashing, are fuelling further multiplication of schemes. A move towards more credible, evidence-based environmental rating ecolabels is therefore urgently needed to promote assessment based on scientific understanding, gain consumer trust, and realise policy objectives. We propose a framework based on four core principles - i) relevance, ii) scientific robustness, iii) trust and transparency, and iv) feasibility (scalability, affordability) - with 18 guidelines that can be followed by rating scheme developers. We characterise the rise of environmental rating ecolabels in geographical Europe and build an inventory of 33 existing schemes, at various stages of development and implementation, to which we apply the framework. This reveals the potential for significant improvement in current schemes, indicating important areas for development. The framework provides a valuable guide for the development of new schemes or an evaluation grid for existing initiatives., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Maëlys Courtat reports financial support was provided by Unilever., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)