Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate if positive attitudes influence the intentions to purchase groceries online. In order fulfil the purpose and test the relationship between attitudes and intentions, the Theory of Planned Behaviour is used as the underlying theoretical model. Background: The e-commerce market in Sweden is regarded as one of the most developed e-commerce markets in Europe, however the grocery market is still striving for an online breakthrough. One of the largest obstacles for the online grocery market is the lack of consumer adoption. Previous research has emphasized the importance of understanding consumer attitudes and its influence on the consumers’ intention to adopt an e-commerce behaviour. Existing theories recognize a gap within positive attitudes’ and their influence on the intentions to adopt e-commerce. Method: An explanatory strategy and a deductive approach were applied in order to test the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Three hypotheses were developed based on the model. The empirical study was based on a quantitative approach and the data collection was made possible through an online survey targeted towards adults in Sweden. Furthermore the analysis of the data was done in SPSS through factor analysis, correlation matrix, descriptive variables and multi linear regression analysis, this provided answers for the hypotheses with a 95% confidence interval. Findings and conclusion: The analysed empirical findings presented overall positive attitudes, as well as a strong correlation between positive attitudes and intentions within online grocery shopping. This answers the research question and fulfils the purpose of examining the influence that positive attitudes have on intentions within the field of online grocery shopping. This research successfully tests the Theory of Planned Behaviour and suggestions for further research is to examine the underlying factors in a qualitative study.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to measure the effectiveness of a grocery store tour that emphasized sources of iron-rich, kid-friendly foods on the participants’ knowledge about dietary iron and iron-rich food sources. A second purpose was to determine if, three months after the grocery store tour, the serum iron levels of the children who had previously been identified by the WIC (Supplemental Women, Infants, and Children) program as being low was higher as compared to the serum iron levels of the control group. Ten parents of children with low iron levels participated in this study, 5 in the control group and 5 in the treatment group. Data collection took place for this research study over the course of three months. The results of this study indicated that the grocery store intervention seemed to have no impact on the children’s hemoglobin levels. The results of this study also indicated that the grocery store tour intervention seemed to have no impact on children’s consumption of iron rich foods. However, the grocery store tour intervention did have a positive impact on parents’ knowledge of iron rich foods and their ability to use unit pricing. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Low socioeconomic families must make many difficult decisions when purchasing foods for their family. As a result, many low-income families base their diets on less expensive, nutrient-poor convenience foods. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the impact of a virtual grocery shopping tour on the ability of low-income Delaware County adults to understand and use the Nutrition Facts Panel. Twenty-one low-income adults participated in the virtual grocery tour that focused on how to use the Nutrition Facts Panel to select healthier food items. Results indicated participants’ confidence in their ability to “use the Nutrition Facts Panel” (7.0 ± 3.5 vs. 9.2 ± 1.8; t=2.53, p=0.021) and to identify a low sodium breakfast cereal (t=3.375; p=0.003) increased after the intervention. However, there was no increase in the participants’ confidence to choose healthy items at the grocery store (t=1.34; p=0.196) or in their ability to identify if a cereal was “high” in fiber (t=1.714; p=0.104), “high” in iron (t=0.438; p=0.667), or a “good” source (e.g., 10-19% DV) of calcium (t=0.438; t=0.667). Future efforts should focus on a narrower curriculum so as not to overwhelm participants. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The aim of this study is to investigate whether club card loyalty have an impact on customers store loyalty. A secondary purpose is to distinguish which attributes of a loyalty card that ICA’s customers prefer, with the focus on the variables; direct- versus indirect rewards, monetary- versus nonmonetary rewards, necessary- versus luxury rewards and immediate- versus delayed rewards.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 293-309.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Montana, 2007. / Title from title screen. Description based on contents viewed July 16, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-78).

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:09:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 parte1.pdf: 3631290 bytes, checksum: 019467916297b1472f7b373fc796e634 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work is a study of the evolutionary process of the Government-sponsored grocery markets and the revolution occurred at the grocery retail in the last decades. It identifies the architectural and urban parameters that are basis for a project methodology apply to Government-sponsored grocery markets. With this purpose, a research was done about the layout as well as the architectural shape of those markets throughout history; it was investigated the function and the new paradigms of retail, the importance of hygienic and secure food to define the parameters for quality control, the consumer decision-make process at the retail environment and the logic of the location for those urban equipment at the urban grid. At last, it is described the phases that compose the architectural planning of a Government-sponsored grocery markets, organizing a flowchart of activities to assure the development of a rational and systematic project process. / Este trabalho faz uma incursão sobre o processo evolutivo dos mercados e a revolução ocorrida no varejo de alimentos, nas últimas décadas, para identificar parâmetros arquitetônicos e urbanísticos que embasem uma metodologia de projeto aplicada a mercados públicos. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa sobre as configurações morfológicas do mercado ao longo da história, investigaram-se o papel e os novos paradigmas do varejo, a importância da higiene e da segurança alimentar na definição de parâmetros para o controle de qualidade, o processo de decisão do consumidor no ambiente varejista e a lógica da localização destes equipamentos na malha urbana. Por fim, descrevem-se as etapas que compõem o planejamento arquitetônico de um mercado público, organizando-as em um fluxograma de atividades, de modo a assegurar o desenvolvimento de um processo projetual racional e sistemático.

Försäljningen av livsmedelsbutikers egna märkesvaror har ökat och det råder konkurrens mellan egna märkesvaror och leverantörernas märkesvaror. För livsmedelsprodukter finns det, inom samma produktkategori, flera olika varumärken att välja bland där produkterna innehållsmässigt är detsamma. Det är därför viktigt att företag skapar ett mervärde till konsumenten genom varumärket, för att konsumenten ska välja deras varumärke framför konkurrerande varumärken. Studien behandlar unga konsumenter som tillhör Generation Y, vilket är personer födda på 1980- eller 1990-talet och är individer som kännetecknas att vara en konsumerande generation som anser att varumärket är viktigt och har betydelse i deras köpprocess. Studien syftar därför till att förklara varför unga konsumenter väljer ett specifikt varumärke när de köper livsmedel. För att kunna besvara syftet har en kvalitativ metod tillämpats. Vi utgick från en teori om konsumentbaserat varumärkeskapital och dess fem dimensioner kännedom, lojalitet, upplevd kvalitet, association/image och unikhet. Denna teori användes för att analysera den insamlade empirin för att få fram ett resultat. Empirin samlades in med hjälp av fokusgruppsintervjuer för att ta del av unga konsumenters åsikter för att få en förståelse om varumärket har betydelse vid köp av livsmedel. Slutsatsen är att varumärket har betydelse för unga konsumenter vid val av varumärke inom livsmedel. De väljer det varumärke som stämmer överens med deras preferenser där deras kunskap om varumärket, förpackningens utseende, priset och miljöaspekter är avgörande. / The sales of grocery stores' private label brands have increased and there is competition between private label brands and national brands. For grocery, there are several different brands in different product categories to choose from where the products are contentually the same. It is therefore important that companies create a value to the consumer through the brand in order for the consumer to choose that brand in front of competing brands. The study deals with young consumers belonging to Generation Y, which are born in the 1980s or 1990s, and are individuals who are characterized of being a consuming generation who considers that the brand is important and has a meaning in their buying process. The study therefore aims to explain why young consumers chooses a specific brand when buying grocery. In order to answer the purpose, a qualitative method has been applied. We assumed a theory of consumer-based brand equity and its five dimensions of awareness, loyalty, perceived quality, association/image and uniqueness. This theory was used to analyze the empirical data to get a result. The empirical data was collected using focus group interviews to get acquainted with young consumers different opinions to gain an understanding of the brand's significance in the purchase of food. The conclusion is that the brand is important to young consumers when selecting a food brand. They choose the brand that is in line with their preferences where knowledge of the brand, the design of the package, the price and ustainability are crucial.

Mesmo reconhecendo a importância das centrais de negócios no contexto brasileiro, pode-se dizer que existe pouco conhecimento sobre o assunto. Essa iniciativa ganhou força apenas nos últimos cinco anos no país e a maioria dos estudos encontrados na literatura, possuem caráter predominantemente exploratório. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho buscou fomentar importantes discussões sobre as centrais de negócios de supermercadistas de pequeno e médio porte, ao analisar de forma crítica a sua formação, identificando os fatores que influenciam a sua sustentabilidade. A metodologia do estudo fundamenta-se em cinco etapas que se complementam. A primeira refere-se ao levantamento bibliográfico e pesquisa em dados secundários, cujo objetivo era ampliar o conhecimento teórico sobre as centrais de negócios. Em um segundo momento, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa de natureza exploratória junto a três centrais de negócios, visando uma percepção prática do tema, a definição das etapas metodológicas, e a elucidação do problema, proposições, perguntas e variáveis da pesquisa. Na seqüência foi realizado um estudo qualitativo com seis centrais de negócios formadas há pelo menos um ano e que possuíam maior conhecimento e experiência no seu processo de formação. Na quarta etapa metodológica foi feita uma pesquisa quantitativa com 21 centrais de negócios em diversos Estados brasileiros para analisar proposições, investigar a correlação entre as variáveis e descrever as características das centrais de negócios no território nacional. Finalmente, por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa, buscou-se identificar nas experiências internacionais dinamarquesas, potenciais ações que pudessem ser adaptadas ao contexto nacional. Os resultados discutidos podem contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do processo de formação das centrais de negócios. Pôde-se concluir que para ser bem sucedida, ela precisa ter uma proposta abrangente, mas ao mesmo tempo focar em objetivos claros, tratar da qualificação e capacitação profissional dos seus membros e incluir e unir o econômico, o social e o cultural. No final do estudo apresentam-se recomendações voltadas à sustentabilidade das centrais de negócios de supermercadistas de pequeno e médio porte. / Even recognizing the importance of the business networks composed by the small and medium grocery retailers for its sustainability in Brazil, the lack of publications is notable. This working force has just received more attention in the country in the last five years and the studies found in the literature have predominantly exploratory character. Based on these facts, the objective of this study is to foment important discussions about the business networks composed by small and medium grocery retailers. It analyzes critically it formation, identifying the influence factors at its sustainability. The methodology of the study is based on five stages that complement each other. The first one refers to the bibliographical research and secondary data research, that attempts to promote the theoretical knowledge on the business networks. In a second moment, an exploratory research was accomplished with three business networks formed by small and medium grocery retailers, seeking a practical perception of the theme, the definition of the methodological stages, and the elucidation of the problem, propositions, questions and variables of the research. In the sequence a qualitative study was conducted with six business networks of small and medium grocery retailers formed at least one year ago that could improve larger knowledge and experience in it formation process. In the fourth methodological stage a quantitative research was realized with 21 business networks in several Brazilian States to analyze propositions, to investigate correlation among the variables and to describe the characteristics of the business networks in the national territory. Finally, through a qualitative research, it was attempted to identify, based on international Danish experiences, potential actions that could be adapted to the national context. The discussed results can contribute to a better understanding of the process of formation of the business networks composed by the small and medium grocery retailers. As a result, for this union succeed, it needs to include a proposal, but at the same time to focus in clear objectives, to improve the qualification of the processes and the professional training of their members, and to include the economical, social and cultural perspective. Since one of the attempt of this study was to provide recommendations focused on the sustainability of the business networks composed by small and medium grocery retailers, the study provides useful insights that should be taken for which business network that aim to be maintainable.