Nudging syftar till vilken aspekt som helst av valarkitektur som förändrar människors beteende på ett positivt vis utan att förbjuda några alternativ eller väsentligt ändra deras ekonomiska incitament. Marknadsföringsstrategin har blivit allt vanligare de senaste åren och förekommer bland företag men även samhället i stort. Syftet med denna studie är att öka förståelsen kring nudging och dess effekt på beteendeförändring hos konsumenter i Sverige och England samt att undersöka om nudging är en effektiv marknadsföringsstrategi inom livsmedelsbranschen. För att undersöka detta har en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi använts. Empirin har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer av både svenska och brittiska konsumenter men även med hjälp av ett antal experter inom marknadsföring, nudging samt näringspolitik. Teorierna som ligger till grund för denna studie är teorier inom nudging, konsumentbeteende, hälsosam kost och social practice theory. Analysen av teorin och empirin tillsammans visade på flera samband och mönster. Studien har bland annat identifierat att det finns en relativt låg medvetenhet kring nudging hos de brittiska konsumenterna och en ännu lägre kännedom hos de svenska konsumenterna. Däremot visade det sig vara en relativt hög samt förhållandevis jämn upplevd påverkan hos samtliga konsumenter. Majoriteten av alla tillfrågade konsumenter visade sig även vara positivt inställda till att livsmedelsbutiker aktivt försöker påverka konsumenternas köpbeteende och främja ett allt mer hälsosamt köpbeteende. Samtliga experter menade på att nudging är en effektiv marknadsföringsstrategi och anser att utfallet är gynnsamt för både konsumenter samt företagen. Studiens centrala slutsats är att det finns tre faktorer som påverkar konsumenters upplevda påverkan av nudging inom livsmedelsbutiker. Det visade sig först och främst finnas en koppling mellan låg medvetenhet kring nudging och hög upplevd påverkan hos konsumenter. Sedan visade det sig även finnas en koppling mellan i vilken utsträckning livsmedelsbutiker anpassar en hälsosam miljö i butiken och konsumenters upplevda påverkan av nudging. Slutligen visade studien även på en koppling mellan konsumenters inställning till att företag arbetar med nudging och konsumenters upplevda påverkan av nudging. / Nudging refers to any aspect of choice architecture that changes people's behavior in a positive way without forbidding any alternatives or significantly changing their economic incentives. This marketing strategy has become increasingly common in recent years and occurs among companies but also society at large. The purpose of this study is to increase understanding of nudging and its effect on behavioral change in consumers in Sweden and England and to investigate whether nudging is an effective marketing strategy in the food industry. To investigate this, a qualitative approach has been used. The empirical data has been collected through semi-structured interviews of both Swedish and British consumers but also with help of a number of experts in marketing, nudging and business policy. The theories on which this study is based on are theories in nudging, consumer behavior, healthy eating and social practice theory. The analysis of the theory and the empirical data together showed several connections and patterns. Among other things, the study has identified that there is a relatively low awareness of nudging among British consumers and an even lower awareness among Swedish consumers. On the other hand, there turned out to be a relatively high and relatively evenly perceived impact on all consumers. The majority of all consumers surveyed also turned out to be in favor of grocery stores actively trying to influence consumers shopping behavior and promote increasingly healthy shopping behavior. All experts believe that nudging is an effective marketing strategy and believe that the outcome is favorable for both consumers and companies. The central conclusion of the study is that there are three factors that affect consumers perceived impact of nudging in grocery stores. First and foremost, there is a connection between low awareness of nudging and high perceived impact among consumers. Secondly there is a connection between the extent to which grocery stores adapt a healthy environment in the store and consumers perceived impact of nudging. Finally, the study also showed a connection between consumers attitudes towards companies working with nudging and consumers' perceived impact of nudging.

The research reported in this thesis tested the hypothesis that low-income families purchase private brands of selected food products because they represent acceptable quality at lower prices. The six food products selected were coffee, flour, peanut butter, bread, pork and beans, and margarine. The data collected in field interviews and subsequent statistical analyses consistently refuted the hypothesis. This finding is true for the low-income consumer segment and its sub-categories, white and Negro. The low-income consumers do not purchase private brands heavily, but test data indicate that this market segment buys more private brands than does the C > $7000 consumer group. There is evidence of substantial differences in the buying habits of low-income Negro and white consumers. While neither market segment purchases more private brands than national labels, the N < $3000 consumer tends to buy more private brands than does the W < $3000 consumer. Contrary to the hypothesis the indication is that the C > $7000 consumer knows price better than does the low-income consumer. Also, greater importance is attached to price by the C > $7000 group than by the low-income segment. This is not true of the Negro consumer. As stated above, the N < $3000 consumer buys more private brands than does the W < $3000 consumer. This tendency exists for price knowledge and the importance attached to price. The Negro consumer tends to know prices better, and he attaches more importance to price than does any of the other income segments tested. Regarding private-brand awareness, none of the market segments tested was well informed about private-brand market offerings. However, low-income consumers were able to name more private brands than were the C > $7000 consumers. Negro consumers were able to name more private labels than the W < $3000 group. The field data and test results all indicate that the Negro consumer tends to spend his money on the selected products more knowledgeably than the lower income white consumer. The Negro is better informed as to price and the private-brand offering. / M.S.

This investigation was carried out in order to determine whether or not blanching and freezing tends to reduce the incidence of bacteria, particularly those of the coliform group, and also the yeasts and molds.

<p dir="ltr">This research investigated transportation cost optimization in a U.S. grocery retail chain experiencing high logistics expenses due to dependence on distributor-controlled delivery systems. Aiming to achieve cost-efficiency, the study developed and evaluated two strategic approaches. Both approaches achieved significant reductions in annual costs over the existing logistics model and supported distinct operational priorities: the leased-truck approach offered immediate cost control and route flexibility, while the hub-centric approach emphasized efficient inventory handling and scalability to meet future demand.</p>

Persons involved in pallet decisions at U.S. grocery distribution centers were surveyed to investigate the degree of material substitution, assess factors influencing pallet material substitution, and quantify consumer perceptions of wood pallets compared to substitutes. A total of 444 questionnaires were mailed nationwide. Underlying reasons for material substitution were investigated through in-depth interviews with 20 respondents. Cost per use was considered by grocery distributors to be the Persons involved in pallet decisions at U.S. grocery distribution centers were surveyed to investigate the degree of material substitution, assess factors influencing pallet material substitution, and quantify consumer perceptions of wood pallets compared to substitutes. A total of 444 questionnaires were mailed nationwide. Underlying reasons for material substitution were investigated through in-depth interviews with 20 respondents. Cost per use was considered by grocery distributors to be the most important factor when choosing a pallet to be sent downstream to their customers. Common advantages of solid wood pallets reported by respondents included: availability, low initial cost, durability/stability (the ability of the pallet to be racked and hold the necessary weight with little deflection), industry standard, ability to exchange, ease of repair. Common disadvantages of solid wood pallets reported by respondents included: easily damaged, short life, high repair and replacement costs, heavy, inconsistent construction, and damages product. Advantages of plastic pallets reported by respondents included: light weight, durability, longer life, true four-way entry, and ability to nest. Plastic pallets were perceived to be superior to wood pallets in terms of overall performance, durability, and recyclability. Although 100 percent of the responding companies use solid wood pallets to ship goods to customers, approximately 20 percent of the companies also use plastic pallets (the dominant substitute pallet material) for this purpose. The common plastic pallet used by respondents was of the twin sheet thermoform type. The primary reason for switching to plastic pallets was perceived overall cost savings resulting from long pallet life. / Master of Science

Imagine a grocery store that physically helps you to make healthy decisions for you. Your Twinkies, Hoho's, and other processed foods are all available and within sight, but you've got to work for them. In the wake of challenges that Americans face every day, this thesis project is putting a magnifying glass to (hi)stories and the human experience, and promoting change for American suburban and urban grocery stores to be health-fitness machines that we need them to be in order to help those of us on a quest to stay fit and healthy. With the information age pretty much exploding- as we are able to do a search for just about anything on Google, lack of information is not necessarily the problem. While gimmicky short term dieting fads come and go, an architectural model solution can set the foundation and structure to sustain progress. Let's look to the origins of architecture, labyrinths are built of walls, but if we are not careful, we can let them lead us to dead ends. Let's look to the origins of the marketplace, where fresh foods are taken directly from the source. For many of us, the modern American grocery store is the origin of our energy, where we will return again and again. It is our food source. It might be one root of our society's increasing levels of unhealthy weight gain, but also the source of opportunity to challenge the current design of the boxed store. / Master of Architecture

This study adapted the theory of planned behavior to investigate the relationship between purchase intention and purchasing behavior toward environmentally-friendly grocery packaging. This quantitative study collected 487 useable responses on the Amazon Mturk platform targeting a population of US consumers over 18 years old who purchase groceries. Using the collected data, a correlation and regression analysis was conducted. The socio-demographic variables were used as moderators to investigate the relationship between purchasing intention and actual behavior. The study's results suggest that a consumer's subjective norms substantially stimulate environmentally friendly grocery packaging purchase intentions, which further has or leads to the most decisive influence on actual behavior. Second, we discovered that purchase intention and perceived behavioral control are likely working in conjunction to help bridge the intention-behavior gap in environmentally friendly consumption. Third, this study supplied a fresh perspective on socio-demographics' role in environmentally friendly consumption, confirming that predominantly younger, unmarried consumers are likelier to act upon their intentions by purchasing environmentally friendly grocery packaging. Furthermore, conclusions from this study uncover the primary influences of consumer purchase intention and behavior towards environmentally-friendly grocery packaging. Lastly, but not less important, this study identifies the barriers to environmentally friendly consumption's intention and behavior gap. Results can also give government agencies and brands a clearer perspective to make consumers more knowledgeable on environmentally friendly packaging consumption.

Online grocery retailing holds potentially fruitful outcomes for retailers in South Africa. However, South African retailers and consumers have been slow to adopt and participate in this form of grocery retailing. This study explores the barriers and motivators to online grocery shopping in South Africa from a supply chain perspective. Therefore, the study was done from both the customer and the retailer’s perspective. Three qualitative data collection methods were employed to collect the data. Firstly, a website analysis of four e-grocers was conducted and compared. Secondly, two focus group discussions were conducted – among consumers who use online grocery shopping, and those who do not. Thirdly, an in-depth interview was conducted with one of the online operations managers of an e-grocer in South Africa. The results revealed four different ‘sets’ of motivators or barriers to online grocery shopping in South Africa: consumer-specific, retailer-specific, website-specific and supply chain-specific. Results from this study could be used to shed some light on how to overcome the hurdles of becoming a multi-channel grocery retailer in South Africa. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

This study is an in-depth investigation of the factors that affect store brand purchases. It aims to help both retailers and manufacturers predict store brand purchases through an improved understanding of the effects of three latent variables: customer satisfaction and loyalty with the store; which is expressed through word-of-mouth; and trust in store brands. An additional aim is to explore variations in the level of store brand adoption and the inter-relationships between the selected constructs. Data was collected through a telephone survey of those responsible for household grocery shopping, and who shop at the nine leading grocery retailers in Greece. A total of 904 respondents completed the questionnaire based upon a quota of 100 respondents for each of the nine retailers. Data were analyzed through chi-square, analysis of variance and partial least square. The proposed model was tested by partial least square path modeling, which related the latent variables to the dependent manifest variable: store brand purchases. The findings provide empirical support that store brand purchases are positively influenced by the consumers’ perceived level of trust in store brands. The consumer decision-making process for store brands is complex and establishing customer satisfaction and loyalty with the store does not appear to influence store brand purchases or the level of trust in the retailer’s store brands in the specific context under study. Consequently the most appropriate way to influence store brand purchases in the Greek market is through increasing in the level of trust in the retailer’s store brands. It is suggested that retailers should therefore invest in trust building strategies for their own store brands and try to capitalize on their brand equity by using a family brand policy. Theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed and opportunities for further research are suggested.

Online grocery retailing holds potentially fruitful outcomes for retailers in South Africa. However, South African retailers and consumers have been slow to adopt and participate in this form of grocery retailing. This study explores the barriers and motivators to online grocery shopping in South Africa from a supply chain perspective. Therefore, the study was done from both the customer and the retailer’s perspective. Three qualitative data collection methods were employed to collect the data. Firstly, a website analysis of four e-grocers was conducted and compared. Secondly, two focus group discussions were conducted – among consumers who use online grocery shopping, and those who do not. Thirdly, an in-depth interview was conducted with one of the online operations managers of an e-grocer in South Africa. The results revealed four different ‘sets’ of motivators or barriers to online grocery shopping in South Africa: consumer-specific, retailer-specific, website-specific and supply chain-specific. Results from this study could be used to shed some light on how to overcome the hurdles of becoming a multi-channel grocery retailer in South Africa. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)