IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i4p1180-d141042.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Management of Unsold Food in Outdoor Market Areas: Food Operators’ Behaviour and Attitudes

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Peira

    (Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin, Italy
    NatRisk—Research Centre on Natural Risks in Mountain and Hilly Environments, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Turin, Italy)

  • Luigi Bollani

    (ESOMAS Department, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin, Italy)

  • Chiara Giachino

    (Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin, Italy)

  • Alessandro Bonadonna

    (Department of Management, University of Turin, Corso Unione Sovietica 218 bis, 10134 Turin, Italy
    NatRisk—Research Centre on Natural Risks in Mountain and Hilly Environments, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Turin, Italy)

Abstract

Food wastage has been widely discussed and investigated from different perspectives in literature. The EU-28 produces about 88 million tonnes of food wastage every year, making the awareness of this phenomenon a vital matter. This paper focuses on the outdoor-market operators’ perception and behaviour towards the food waste phenomenon in a particular phase of the agro-food supply chain. It assesses the different approaches used to manage unsold produce and its destination. A sample of 214 market retailers in the Greater Torino market areas of Italy were identified, to whom a questionnaire was administered by interview to analyze the main actors involved in the food-wastage process and profile them according to their perception, behaviour, and attitude. The results show that there are three distinct kinds of market operators, i.e., farmers, peddlers, and hybrids. Their attitudes and behaviour towards unsold food differ, as does their inclination towards a sustainable approach, which depends on their personal experience and role in the supply chain. Moreover, the results provide some relevant elements that may contribute to improving the management of the food-waste phenomenon. Moreover, they bring some useful evidence to light that could lay the basis of more effective tools to be put at the disposal of various institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Peira & Luigi Bollani & Chiara Giachino & Alessandro Bonadonna, 2018. "The Management of Unsold Food in Outdoor Market Areas: Food Operators’ Behaviour and Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1180-:d:141042
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/4/1180/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/4/1180/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lee, Jean, 2017. "Farmer participation in a climate-smart future: Evidence from the Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 72-79.
    2. Engstrom, Rebecka & Carlsson-Kanyama, Annika, 2004. "Food losses in food service institutions Examples from Sweden," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 203-213, June.
    3. J Jara-Samaniego & M D Pérez-Murcia & M A Bustamante & C Paredes & A Pérez-Espinosa & I Gavilanes-Terán & M López & F C Marhuenda-Egea & H Brito & R Moral, 2017. "Development of organic fertilizers from food market waste and urban gardening by composting in Ecuador," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Michael D. M. Bader & Marnie Purciel & Paulette Yousefzadeh & Kathryn M. Neckerman, 2010. "Disparities in Neighborhood Food Environments: Implications of Measurement Strategies," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 86(4), pages 409-430, October.
    5. Zhang, Man & Jin, Yanhong & Qiao, Hui & Zheng, Fengtian, 2017. "Product quality asymmetry and food safety: Investigating the “one farm household, two production systems” of fruit and vegetable farmers in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 232-243.
    6. Roberta Sebastiani & Francesca Montagnini & Daniele Dalli, 2013. "Ethical Consumption and New Business Models in the Food Industry. Evidence from the Eataly Case," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 473-488, May.
    7. Dante Di Gregorio, 2017. "Place-based business models for resilient local economies," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(1), pages 113-128, March.
    8. Koki Okawa, 2015. "Market and Trade Impacts of Food Loss and Waste Reduction," OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Papers 75, OECD Publishing.
    9. Onono, Joshua Orungo & Alarcon, Pablo & Karani, Maurice & Muinde, Patrick & Akoko, James Miser & Maud, Carron & Fevre, Eric M. & Häsler, Barbara & Rushton, Jonathan, 2018. "Identification of production challenges and benefits using value chain mapping of egg food systems in Nairobi, Kenya," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1-8.
    10. Justin Myers, 2013. "The logic of the gift: the possibilities and limitations of Carlo Petrini’s slow food alternative," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 30(3), pages 405-415, September.
    11. John Bovay, 2017. "Demand for collective food-safety standards," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 48(6), pages 793-803, November.
    12. Cicatiello, Clara & Franco, Silvio & Pancino, Barbara & Blasi, Emanuele, 2016. "The value of food waste: An exploratory study on retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 96-104.
    13. Steven J. R. Underhill & Yuchan Zhou & Shukrullah Sherzad & Lila Singh-Peterson & Semua Militini Tagoai, 2017. "Horticultural postharvest loss in municipal fruit and vegetable markets in Samoa," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1373-1383, December.
    14. Buzby, Jean C. & Hyman, Jeffrey, 2012. "Total and per capita value of food loss in the United States," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 561-570.
    15. Berg, Nathan & Preston, Kate L., 2017. "Willingness to pay for local food?: Consumer preferences and shopping behavior at Otago Farmers Market," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 343-361.
    16. Alexandra Jurgilevich & Traci Birge & Johanna Kentala-Lehtonen & Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki & Janna Pietikäinen & Laura Saikku & Hanna Schösler, 2016. "Transition towards Circular Economy in the Food System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, January.
    17. Corsi, Stefano & Marchisio, Laura Viviana & Orsi, Luigi, 2017. "Connecting smallholder farmers to local markets: Drivers of collective action, land tenure and food security in East Chad," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 39-47.
    18. Massimiliano Borrello & Francesco Caracciolo & Alessia Lombardi & Stefano Pascucci & Luigi Cembalo, 2017. "Consumers’ Perspective on Circular Economy Strategy for Reducing Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, January.
    19. Ola Eriksson, 2017. "Energy and Waste Management," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-7, July.
    20. Danso, G. K. & Otoo, Miriam & Ekere, W. & Ddungu, S. & Madurangi, Ganesha, "undated". "Market feasibility of faecal sludge and municipal solid waste-based compost as measured by farmers’ willingness-to-pay for product attributes: evidence from Kampala, Uganda," Papers published in Journals (Open Access) H048217, International Water Management Institute.
    21. Michael D. M. Bader & Marnie Purciel & Paulette Yousefzadeh & Kathryn M. Neckerman, 2010. "Disparities in Neighborhood Food Environments: Implications of Measurement Strategies," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 86(4), pages 409-430, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Romulus Gruia & Gabriel-Iustin Florescu & Liviu Gaceu & Oana Bianca Oprea & Nicolae Ţane, 2021. "Reducing Environmental Risk by Applying a Polyvalent Model of Waste Management in the Restaurant Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Giovanni Peira & Riccardo Beltramo & Maria Beatrice Pairotti & Alessandro Bonadonna, 2018. "Foodservice in a UNESCO Site: The Restaurateurs’ Perception on Communication and Promotion Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Beata Bilska & Marzena Tomaszewska & Danuta Kołożyn-Krajewska, 2022. "The Management of Meals in Food Service Establishments in the Context of Food Waste—Results of Focus Group Interviews with Employees and Owners," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Giachino, Chiara & Pattanaro, Giulio & Bertoldi, Bernardo & Bollani, Luigi & Bonadonna, Alessandro, 2021. "Nature-based solutions and their potential to attract the young generations," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Stefano Duglio & Alessandro Bonadonna & Marilisa Letey & Giovanni Peira & Laura Zavattaro & Giampiero Lombardi, 2019. "Tourism Development in Inner Mountain Areas—The Local Stakeholders’ Point of View through a Mixed Method Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Nobuyoshi Yasunaga, 2020. "Classification of collective actions for rural community vitalization in Chugoku Mountainous region, Japan: applying multiple correspondence analysis," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 553-592, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Do, Quynh & Ramudhin, Amar & Colicchia, Claudia & Creazza, Alessandro & Li, Dong, 2021. "A systematic review of research on food loss and waste prevention and management for the circular economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    2. Roberto Ruggieri & Giuliana Vinci & Marco Ruggeri & Henry Sardaryan, 2020. "Food losses and food waste: The Industry 4.0 opportunity for the sustainability challenge," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(1), pages 159-177.
    3. Rosalinda Nicastro & Petronia Carillo, 2021. "Food Loss and Waste Prevention Strategies from Farm to Fork," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Marisa Faggini & Silvia Cosimato & Anna Parziale, 2023. "The way towards food sustainability: some insights for pasta supply chain," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(2), pages 679-702, July.
    5. Eriksson, Mattias & Ghosh, Ranjan & Mattsson, Lisa & Ismatov, Alisher, 2017. "Take-back agreements in the perspective of food waste generation at the supplier-retailer interface," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 83-93.
    6. Effie Papargyropoulou & Julia K. Steinberger & Nigel Wright & Rodrigo Lozano & Rory Padfield & Zaini Ujang, 2019. "Patterns and Causes of Food Waste in the Hospitality and Food Service Sector: Food Waste Prevention Insights from Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Cicatiello, Clara & Franco, Silvio & Pancino, Barbara & Blasi, Emanuele & Falasconi, Luca, 2017. "The dark side of retail food waste: Evidences from in-store data," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 273-281.
    8. Michael Carolan, 2021. "Putting food access in its topological place: thinking in terms of relational becomings when mapping space," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 243-256, February.
    9. Aschemann-Witzel, Jessica & de Hooge, Ilona E. & Almli, Valérie L., 2021. "My style, my food, my waste! Consumer food waste-related lifestyle segments," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    10. Bimbo, Francesco & Viscecchia, Rosaria & Nardone, Gianluca, 2012. "Does the alternative food supply network affect the human health?," 126th Seminar, June 27-29, 2012, Capri, Italy 126060, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Sara Moggi & Sabrina Bonomi & Francesca Ricciardi, 2018. "Against Food Waste: CSR for the Social and Environmental Impact through a Network-Based Organizational Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, September.
    12. Mattias Eriksson & Christopher Malefors & Pauline Bergström & Emelie Eriksson & Christine Persson Osowski, 2020. "Quantities and Quantification Methodologies of Food Waste in Swedish Hospitals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-12, April.
    13. Janet Music & Sylvain Charlebois & Louise Spiteri & Shannon Farrell & Alysha Griffin, 2021. "Increases in Household Food Waste in Canada as a Result of COVID-19: An Exploratory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-11, November.
    14. Berning, Joshua P., 2012. "Access to Local Agriculture and Weight Outcomes," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 41(1), pages 57-71, April.
    15. Garrone, Paola & Melacini, Marco & Perego, Alessandro, 2014. "Opening the black box of food waste reduction," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 129-139.
    16. Romulus Gruia & Gabriel-Iustin Florescu & Liviu Gaceu & Oana Bianca Oprea & Nicolae Ţane, 2021. "Reducing Environmental Risk by Applying a Polyvalent Model of Waste Management in the Restaurant Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    17. Leipold, Sina & Weldner, Kaja & Hohl, Marius, 2021. "Do we need a ‘circular society’? Competing narratives of the circular economy in the French food sector," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    18. Richards, Timothy J. & Hamilton, Stephen F., 2018. "Food waste in the sharing economy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 109-123.
    19. Garcia-Herrero, I. & Hoehn, D. & Margallo, M. & Laso, J. & Bala, A. & Batlle-Bayer, L. & Fullana, P. & Vazquez-Rowe, I. & Gonzalez, M.J. & Durá, M.J. & Sarabia, C. & Abajas, R. & Amo-Setien, F.J. & Qu, 2018. "On the estimation of potential food waste reduction to support sustainable production and consumption policies," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 24-38.
    20. Jennifer J. Salinas & Elizabeth Rocha & Bassent E. Abdelbary & Jennifer Gay & Ken Sexton, 2012. "Impact of Hispanic Ethnic Concentration and Socioeconomic Status on Obesity Prevalence in Texas Counties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1180-:d:141042. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.