Rozprawy doktorskie na temat „Food retail”

The Swedish food retail market contains of three major actors, ICA, KF and Axfood, all in all dominating 75 percent of the total market shares. The scant number of retailing actors indicates that the Swedish food retail market is a highly concentrated oligopoly, which as a fact has given rise to definite discussions and argumentations concerning the market situation. But is the food retail market imperfect and how do we reach a workable competition? Economic theory does not provide any clear answer on these questions, but is rather divided into two fundamentally different approaches to define competition: the static and the dynamic perspective on competition.

In an attempt to examine the competition on local Swedish retail markets, the purpose of this study is to carry out an econometric model estimating the situation. The model serves to explain the variation of ICA’s achievements measured in terms of turnovers obtained in the company. The explanatory variables composing the model are divided into three separate groupings: degreeof market concentration, storespecific factors and region-specific factors. Furthermore, in order to find out which one of the competitive explanations best fits the reality, the regression results are interpreted from a static and a dynamic perspective of competition. In part, we also aim to compare the results with the outline of the Swedish competition law.

We found that the level of concentration obtained in our material is high and is steadily increasing. We also found that stores do not, in any great extent, use price, service and quality as competitive methods. Thus, to gain competitive advantage, market actors must find other ways to carry out strategic market activities. The region-specific variables had either none or very little influence on ICA’s turnover. According to these findings, neither the static nor the dynamic perspective of competition is solely able to produce an accurate method for reaching a state of a workable competition. Instead, a combination of the static and the dynamic ideas may be regarded as the most advantageous way to generate suitable conditions for competition to be efficient. Therefore, in order to promote workable competition, the Swedish competition law must consist of a balance between the static and the dynamic view of competition.

Most people have had an episode of foodborne illness at one time or another; however, the majority of those stricken with foodborne illness fails to associate ill health with something consumed within the past 72 hours. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that foodborne diseases affect 30% of the population in developed countries, and that in developing countries, about 2 million people die yearly due to foodborne illness. Previous researchers have indicated that food handlers with poor personal hygiene are potential sources of infection. Although public health agencies in many countries already regularly inspect food facilities to control potential foodborne illnesses to some extent, the question of the most appropriate and effective means of achieving the goal of food safety remains unanswered. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a color-coded placard grading system is an effective tool for achieving this goal while simultaneously educating the public about food safety. This study involved 1,410 randomly selected food service establishments, consisting of traditional restaurants, take-out restaurants, grocery stores, public school cafeterias, and institutional food facilities located in Alameda County, California. Inspection data were analyzed for the first 12 months of placard grading and compared to the following 12 months during the placard grading period. Statistical analysis results did not show significant differences in the CDC major violations and in confirmed foodborne illnesses between the 2 years. However, it is expected that the new program will provide improved food handling practices in the future. Improvement in food handling practices will contribute to social change by reducing the number of foodborne illnesses, promoting better health for the community, and educating the public about food safety.

This study concerns retail brands in the food retail industry and focuses on premium products. The research is investigating how ICA can best use premium products to increase their profitability. The study is thus based on their brand ICA Selection and investigates three sub purposes concerning the customers’ perception of the products, their purchase behavior and their willingness to pay a price premium.

To investigate, theory concerning brand resources was utilized, involving both brand equity and brand management. To measure brand equity, the authors adapted a customer mind set and utilized Aaker’s framework and the specific industry developments made by Anselmsson, Johansson and Persson. Accordingly, this theory is based on five brand equity attributes: perceived quality, brand associations, loyalty, awareness and uniqueness. These attributes were thereafter developed to explain food premium products. The brand management theory used was Kapferer’s brand management strategies, in order to assess ICA’s strategic advantages and disadvantages.

The research was quantitative and the authors utilized a visit self completion questionnaire, in order to describe and investigate the purpose. The questionnaire was handed out according to a systematic sampling method, to customers at the 4 different concept ICA stores in Umeå.

Based on the findings, the authors concluded that in order to increase the profitability of ICAs food premium products, the following strategies should be considered. First, the customer awareness of ICA Selection must be increased and the customers must be educated about the benefits of the product. Moreover, the premium brand should aim to provide value for money, high intrinsic product quality (i.e. taste, ingredients etc) and an improved store image. These factors will help defend the price premium.  Furthermore, to attract buyers, the brand has to have a high enough brand status and a sufficiently attractive and functional packaging. This research has therefore concluded how to efficiently allocate the resources and obtain an increased customer satisfaction. This may in turn increase the profitability of ICA Selection. However, it is of course important to also take into account the external environment, such as the recession and competition, when deciding on the brand strategy.

Quality is an accumulation of attributes that satisfy customer preferences and expectations. Lamb quality is a moving target that means different things to the supply chain and sheep/lamb industry stakeholders. The objectives of this research were to determine the rank, definition, relative preference, and willingness to pay (WTP) for seven quality attributes and quantify product attributes of lamb at U.S. retail markets. Structured interviews of retail and foodservice respondents were conducted from May 2014 to March 2015 via face-to-face or telephone with lamb/protein purchaser representatives of retail (n = 60), foodservice (n = 45), and purveyor (n = 15) marketing sectors. Shares of preference (relative percentage of preference) in best/worst evaluation for all interviews indicated that eating satisfaction (38.9%) was the most important attribute.

Shares of preference for all seven specified quality attributes were statistically different from each other (P < 0.05). Credence attributes of origin (17.2%) and sheep raising practices (13.6%) ranked second and third overall, respectively. Physical product characteristic traits of product appearance/composition (10.5%) and weight/size (8.5%) were ranked fourth and fifth in shares of preference, respectively. Nutrition/wholesomeness (7.1%) ranked sixth and product convenience/form (4.2%) ranked seventh in the overall ranking across all sectors of retailer, foodservice, and purveyor interview respondents.

In WTP analyses, origin (25.8%) and sheep raising practices (20.0%) had the greatest likelihood of being a non-negotiable requirement for lamb purchasers. Eating satisfaction was the trait most likely to receive a premium (71.7%) from buyers, and product assurance of eating satisfaction generated the greatest average WTP premium (18.6%). This research indicated, across all sectors, eating satisfaction, defined as lamb flavor/taste, was the most important quality trait to those who purchase lamb.

In-store evaluations of retail lamb labels showed that lamb shoulder and loin chops originating from the U.S. garnered the greatest price premiums compared to either New Zealand or Australian lamb (P < 0.05). Lamb was merchandised to American consumers at specialty type stores at an increased price per kg premium than either locally owned or national grocery chains (P < 0.05). Lamb shoulder prices at retail were merchandised with the greatest premium for product of U.S. origin from a specialty store packaged in modified atmosphere packaging and labeled with local (+ $5.42/kg) and natural (+ $5.40/kg) claims (P < 0.05). Lamb loin prices at retail were merchandised with the greatest premium for product of U.S. origin from a specialty store merchandised in a full service case or modified atmosphere packaged and labeled with a source verified and branded (+ $7.21/kg) label claim (P < 0.05). Shoulder and loin chop prices analyzed via hedonic modeling were not different for store location (East, Central, and West) nor USDA process verified Never-Ever 3 claim (P > 0.05).

Additionally, this research indicated that lamb loin and rib chops purchased at U.S. retail markets originating from U.S. lamb were the most muscular. Loin eye area of loin chops from U.S. origin were greater (19.55 cm2) than Australian chops (16.77 cm²), and chops from New Zealand (14.52 cm²) were the least muscular (P < 0.05). Also, Australian lamb (0.64 cm) had a trimness advantage of external fat of loin chops compared to lamb originating from either the U.S (0.84 cm) or New Zealand (0.86 cm; P < 0.05).

Lamb producers should strive to place a strategic emphasis on quality attributes identified in this research to ensure eating satisfaction and lamb flavor are optimized for American Lamb, and to produce lamb with product authenticity attributes requested by retail and foodservice sectors, and inevitably American lamb consumers.

An important application of the research included the development of an American lamb quality mission to: improve the consistency of quality, cutability, and marketability of American lamb with a consumer driven focus. The final phase of this project was a sheep/lamb industry strategy workshop that identified goals to: 1) Address factors contributing to lamb flavor, their impact on consumer satisfaction, and align flavor characteristics with target markets; 2) Improve lamb management to hit market-ready targets for product size, composition, and eating satisfaction while reducing production costs; and 3) Identify and capitalize on market opportunities for American lamb. A continuous improvement mentality is essential to lamb quality management throughout the supply chain in order to maintain (and increase) market share and demand for American lamb.