IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i2p728-d310628.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Importance Given to Food Naturalness Attributes by Millennial University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Eloi Jorge

    (Research Group in Economic Analysis, Accounting and Finance (RGEAF), University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain)

  • Ernesto Lopez-Valeiras

    (Research Group in Economic Analysis, Accounting and Finance (RGEAF), University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
    Accounting and Finance Department, Faculty of Business Administration and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain)

  • Maria Beatriz Gonzalez-Sanchez

    (Research Group in Economic Analysis, Accounting and Finance (RGEAF), University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
    Accounting and Finance Department, Faculty of Business Administration and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain)

Abstract

So-called natural food is one of the most significant current trends in the food business. Despite this trend, previous research on the measurement of naturalness has made no distinction between different groups of consumers. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the attributes important to millennial university students when evaluating food naturalness. The study is based on a questionnaire administered to a sample of 372 respondents. Using a partial least square (PLS) methodology, it performs a standard confirmatory factor analysis for measurement and validations. As a result, it identifies one attribute linked to how the food is grown and eight attributes associated to how it is produced and processed. These findings have several implications. Apart from testing previous scales in a millennial context, they confirm that market strategies must take different understandings of naturalness into account contingent upon the consumer group.

Suggested Citation

  • Eloi Jorge & Ernesto Lopez-Valeiras & Maria Beatriz Gonzalez-Sanchez, 2020. "The Importance Given to Food Naturalness Attributes by Millennial University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:728-:d:310628
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/728/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/728/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tao Zhang & Junyu Chen & Baoliang Hu, 2019. "Authenticity, Quality, and Loyalty: Local Food and Sustainable Tourism Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Cavallo, Carla & Materia, Valentina C., 2018. "Insects or not Insects? Dilemmas or Attraction for Young Generations: A Case in Italy," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 9(3), June.
    3. Trust M. Pfukwa & Olaniyi A. Fawole & Marena Manley & Pieter A. Gouws & Umezuruike Linus Opara & Cletos Mapiye, 2019. "Food Preservative Capabilities of Grape ( Vitis vinifera ) and Clementine Mandarin ( Citrus reticulata ) By-products Extracts in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Luigi Bollani & Giovanni Peira & Erica Varese & Enrico Nesi & Maria Beatrice Pairotti & Alessandro Bonadonna, 2017. "Labelling and sustainability in the green food economy: Perception among millennials with a good cultural background," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(2), pages 83-101.
    5. Luigi Bollani & Alessandro Bonadonna & Giovanni Peira, 2019. "The Millennials’ Concept of Sustainability in the Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Onyango, Benjamin M. & Govindasamy, Ramu & Hallman, William K. & Jang, Ho-Min & Puduri, Venkata S., 2006. "Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Foods in South Korea: Factor and Cluster Analysis," Journal of Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia, vol. 24(1), pages 1-18.
    7. Licsandru, Tana Cristina & Cui, Charles Chi, 2019. "Ethnic marketing to the global millennial consumers: Challenges and opportunities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 261-274.
    8. Tiia†Lotta Pekkanen & Satu Pätäri & Laura Albadera & Ari Jantunen, 2018. "Who Cares About Product Sustainability Information at the Moment of Purchase? Consumer Evidence from Three Countries," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 229-242, May.
    9. Loureiro, Maria L. & Hine, Susan E., 2002. "Discovering Niche Markets: A Comparison Of Consumer Willingness To Pay For Local (Colorado Grown), Organic, And Gmo-Free Products," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 34(3), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Giovanni Sogari & Diana Bogueva & Dora Marinova, 2019. "Australian Consumers’ Response to Insects as Food," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-15, May.
    11. Zanete Garanti & Aysen Berberoglu, 2018. "Cultural Perspective of Traditional Cheese Consumption Practices and Its Sustainability among Post-Millennial Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-15, September.
    12. Tenenhaus, Michel & Vinzi, Vincenzo Esposito & Chatelin, Yves-Marie & Lauro, Carlo, 2005. "PLS path modeling," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 159-205, January.
    13. Saroja Dhanapal & Deeparechigi Vashu & Thanam Subramaniam, 2015. "Perceptions on the challenges of online purchasing: a study from “baby boomers”, generation “X” and generation “Y” point of views," Contaduría y Administración, Accounting and Management, vol. 60(5), pages 107-132, Octubre-D.
    14. Alessandro Bonadonna & Chiara Giachino & Elisa Truant, 2017. "Sustainability and Mountain Tourism: The Millennial’s Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Krittinee Nuttavuthisit & John Thøgersen, 2017. "The Importance of Consumer Trust for the Emergence of a Market for Green Products: The Case of Organic Food," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 323-337, January.
    16. Dan-Cristian Dabija & Raluca Băbuț, 2019. "Enhancing Apparel Store Patronage through Retailers’ Attributes and Sustainability. A Generational Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-14, August.
    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. José Alberto Martínez-González & Carmen D. Álvarez-Albelo, 2021. "Influence of Site Personalization and First Impression on Young Consumers’ Loyalty to Tourism Websites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Iris Vermeir & Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Florin Laurentiu Crista & Ioan Banatean-Dunea, 2020. "Traditional Foods at the Click of a Button: The Preference for the Online Purchase of Romanian Traditional Foods during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-15, November.

    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. Bianca Polenzani & Chiara Riganelli & Andrea Marchini, 2020. "Sustainability Perception of Local Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Consumers’ Attitude: A New Italian Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou & Aikaterini Stavrianea & Evangelia-Zoi Bara, 2020. "Generational Differences toward Organic Food Behavior: Insights from Five Generational Cohorts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-25, March.
    3. De Devitiis, Biagia & Viscecchia, Rosaria & Carfora, Valentina & Cavallo, Carla & Cicia, Gianna & Del Giudice, Teresa & Menna, Concetta & Nardone, Gianluca & Secca, Antonio, 2021. "Parents’ trust in food safety and healthiness of children’s diets: A TPB model explaining the role of retailers and government," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 23(2), July.
    4. Ana Lanero & José-Luis Vázquez & César Sahelices-Pinto, 2020. "Heuristic Thinking and Credibility of Organic Advertising Claims: The Role of Knowledge and Motivations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Giovanni Peira & Damiano Cortese & Giampiero Lombardi & Luigi Bollani, 2020. "Grass-Fed Milk Perception: Profiling Italian Consumer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Ioanna Apostolidou & Foivos Anastasiadis & Anastasios Michailidis, 2018. "Consumer Perceived Value to Traceability System in Food Supply Chains: iGeneration vs Millennials," Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 19(2), January.
    7. Hye Jung Jung & Kyung Wha Oh & HaeJung Maria Kim, 2021. "Country Differences in Determinants of Behavioral Intention towards Sustainable Apparel Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-23, January.
    8. Xiaoxu Dong & Huawei Zhao & Tiancai Li, 2022. "The Role of Live-Streaming E-Commerce on Consumers’ Purchasing Intention regarding Green Agricultural Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-13, April.
    9. Annie Tubadji & Peter Nijkamp, 2015. "Cultural impact on regional development: application of a PLS-PM model to Greece," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 54(3), pages 687-720, May.
    10. Melanie Lefevre, 2011. "Willingness-to-pay for Local Milk-based Dairy Product in Senegal," CREPP Working Papers 1108, Centre de Recherche en Economie Publique et de la Population (CREPP) (Research Center on Public and Population Economics) HEC-Management School, University of Liège.
    11. Debora Bettiga & Lucio Lamberti & Emanuele Lettieri, 2020. "Individuals’ adoption of smart technologies for preventive health care: a structural equation modeling approach," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 203-214, June.
    12. Vittadini, Giorgio & Minotti, Simona C. & Fattore, Marco & Lovaglio, Pietro G., 2007. "On the relationships among latent variables and residuals in PLS path modeling: The formative-reflective scheme," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 51(12), pages 5828-5846, August.
    13. Adam Malešević & Dušan Barać & Dragan Soleša & Ema Aleksić & Marijana Despotović-Zrakić, 2021. "Adopting xRM in Higher Education: E-Services Outside the Classroom," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    14. Dettmann, Rachael L., 2008. "Organic Produce: Who's Eating it? A Demographic Profile of Organic Produce Consumers," 2008 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2008, Orlando, Florida 6446, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    15. Oubrich, Mourad & Hakmaoui, Abdelati & Benhayoun, Lamiae & Solberg Söilen, Klaus & Abdulkader, Bisan, 2021. "Impacts of leadership style, organizational design and HRM practices on knowledge hiding: The indirect roles of organizational justice and competitive work environment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 488-499.
    16. Claudio Vitari & Elisabetta Raguseo, 2016. "Big data value and financial performance: an empirical investigation [Digital data, dynamic capability and financial performance: an empirical investigation in the era of Big Data]," Post-Print halshs-01923271, HAL.
    17. Martins, José & Costa, Catarina & Oliveira, Tiago & Gonçalves, Ramiro & Branco, Frederico, 2019. "How smartphone advertising influences consumers' purchase intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 378-387.
    18. Shahida Anusha Siddiqui & Tayyaba Alvi & Aysha Sameen & Sipper Khan & Andrey Vladimirovich Blinov & Andrey Ashotovich Nagdalian & Mohammad Mehdizadeh & Danung Nur Adli & Marleen Onwezen, 2022. "Consumer Acceptance of Alternative Proteins: A Systematic Review of Current Alternative Protein Sources and Interventions Adapted to Increase Their Acceptability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    19. Amir Louizi & Radhouane Kammoun, 2016. "Evaluation of corporate governance systems by credit rating agencies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 20(2), pages 363-385, June.
    20. Sengazhani Murugesan Vadivel & Aloysius Henry Sequeira & Robert Rajkumar Sakkariyas & Kirubaharan Boobalan, 2022. "Impact of lean service, workplace environment, and social practices on the operational performance of India post service industry," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(2), pages 2219-2244, August.

    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:12:y:2020:i:2:p:728-:d:310628. 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.