A values–beliefs–attitude model of local food consumption: An empirical study in China and Denmark. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Ting; Grunert, Klaus G.; Zhou, Yanfeng
• Is Part Of: Food quality and preference. Volume 83(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Values -- Beliefs -- Locavorism -- Local food consumption -- Fresh start mindset -- Structural equation modelling; Food preferences -- Periodicals; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Préférences alimentaires -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade -- Quality control; Food preferences; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.103916
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-3293

Abstract

Highlights: A values-beliefs-attitudes model of local food consumption in China and Denmark. Collectivistic values are positively related to locavorism in both China and Denmark. Individualistic values strongly affect locavorism and fresh start mindset in Denmark. Stronger long-term orientation leads to higher locavorism and fresh start mindset. Beliefs are positively related to attitudes towards and intentions to buy local foods. Abstract: Consumers' and policy makers' interest in local foods is growing. Accordingly, researchers are also increasingly paying attention to the consumption of local foods. Studies have identified preference for local foods as an emergent consumer ideology called "locavorism", but they have not yet addressed its antecedents or put it into a theoretical context. In addition, extant research provides several insights into local food buying behaviour in developed economies (e.g., USA, UK, Germany, or Italy); however, studies simultaneously conducted in developed and emerging economies are lacking. To address these research gaps, this study develops a conceptual framework with proposed relationships among values, beliefs (locavorism and fresh start mindset), and attitudes towards and intentions to purchase local foods in China and Denmark. We conducted an online survey in China and Denmark that evaluated our constructs with pre-developed multiple-item measures. Using structural equation modelling to test the integrated model, we find that values and long-term orientation are antecedents of consumer beliefs but the influences of values on consumer beliefs differ between collectivistic-dominated China and individualistic-dominated Denmark. Specifically, collectivistic values are significantly and positively related to locavorism in both countries, while individualistic values are strongly linked to locavorism only in Denmark; collectivistic values have no effects on fresh start mindset for the two samples, but individualistic values are significantly and positively related to a fresh start mindset in Denmark. In addition, consumer beliefs are significantly and positively associated with attitudes towards and intentions to buy local foods. Local food marketers can use our findings to target their communications more effectively.