• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2015

Purpose - This study plans to adopt a more sophisticated approach toward service recognition by customers in general supermarkets in order to revise the service quality measurement methods that suit the context of Korean distribution channels. In particular, in general supermarkets, where much of the shopping process is in the form of self-service, there is high reliance on the service recognized by the consumers; therefore, it is highly likely that consumers would make their purchasing decisions based on their recognition of service quality or guarantees. It also utilized service quality elements of a basic level in the KD-SQS development model in order to indicate that the quality recognized by consumers impacts their loyalty to the stores with financial value and abstract value. Research design, data, and methodology - The study suggested a theoretical model comprising 13 hypotheses on relations between theoretic variables, and conducted surveys with consumers using discount stores in Seoul and Gyunggi Metropolitan area in order to verify the hypotheses, while using SPSS 20.0, AMOS 21.0 as the verification program. The survey sheets used amounted to 332, and a structural equation model was used to analyze the reliability and validity of constituent elements and to verify the suggested hypothesis. Therefore, this study analyzes the interrelations between service quality and guarantee factors in the distribution channel and their relations with the loyalty to stores as a dependent variable. Results - First, the results of the hypotheses tests helped identify the relations between service quality, service guarantees, service value, and customer loyalty, providing an opportunity to define the relations between constituent elements. In particular, service convenience in service quality has no impact on financial values. Further, stores' service policy had no impact on abstract values. Service recognition by service convenience has an impact on abstract values such as good image, comfort, and usability, while mileage systems promote financial values for consumers. In order to improve consumer values in service quality and values, general supermarkets should improve their service convenience, membership, and mileage programs using various strategies. Conclusion - In order to improve consumer values in service quality and values, general supermarkets should improve their service convenience, membership, and mileage programs using various strategies. Further, as service guarantee systems have a significant and direct impact on customer loyalty, rather than customer value recognition, service guarantees should be used to encourage customers to re-visit the stores. Finally, this study applied the findings of preceding studies in terms of service quality measurement; it had limitations in referencing preceding studies in a comprehensive manner. It also had limits in expanding upon various preceding studies because it was difficult to apply new measurement tools due to the lack of service quality measurement tools for general supermarkets. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more studies on service quality to measure service quality and develop measurement tools by incorporating various industry characteristics.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.465-479
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Korean adolescents and the major factors influencing the excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, psychological characteristics, and dietary habits. Methods: The analysis was performed using the data from the 2017 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The subjects included in the analysis were 30,885 middle school students and 31,391 high school students, totaling 62,276. The frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was calculated by summing the consumption frequencies of soda, high caffeine or energy drinks, and sweet beverages over the last 7 days. The Rao-Scott chi-square test, reflecting information on the sampling design, was used to test the differences in the rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption according to each factor. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors influencing the excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Results: The rate of sweetened beverage consumption was higher in boys than in girls, in high school students than in middle school students, in students whose father's education level was lower, in those whose subjective academic performance was lower, and in those who smoked or consumed alcohol. In addition, the rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was higher in those who experienced severe stress, suicidal ideation, sadness, or a sense of despair. The rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was also high in those who skipped breakfast; who frequently consumed fast foods, ramen, or snacks; and who frequently ate meals at convenience stores, supermarkets, or school stores. Conclusion: The rate of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Korean adolescents is related to various factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, psychological characteristics, and dietary habits.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2015

Purpose - This study attempts to examine the impacts of consumers' perceived service convenience of retailers on various service performance metrics such as service quality and customer satisfaction. It also tries to investigate differences in the importance of service convenience dimensions on service performance between a department store and a general super market. Research design, data, and methodology - The four hypotheses in this study were proposed and tested. Two hypotheses were on the causal relationships between service convenience dimensions and service performances (service quality and customer satisfaction). The other two hypotheses were on comparisons for the effects of convenience dimensions on service quality and customer satisfaction between department stores and general super markets. To test the hypotheses, three department store chains (Hyundai, Lotte, and Shinsegae department Store) and three general super markets (E-mart, Homeplus, and Lotte mart) were involved. Overall, 510 usable responses were used. The data were analyzed using regression analysis. Results - The results largely support the hypothesized relationships of the proposed model. The results show that access convenience, transaction convenience, benefit convenience, and post-benefit convenience have positive influences on service quality, whereas decision convenience, access convenience, transaction convenience, benefit convenience, and post-benefit convenience have positive effects on customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the results show that there are differences between department stores and general super markets in the effects of benefit convenience and post-benefit convenience on service quality as well as the effects of transaction convenience and post-benefit convenience on customer satisfaction. Conclusions - The concept of service convenience is important in retail environments but little is known about this topic in retail literature. Specially, while service convenience dimensions have different impacts on service performance in distinct retail environments, there has been little investigation or comparison between retail types as regards service convenience. This study is the first to test the differences between distinct retail types (department stores and general super markets) on the service convenience-service performance links. Managerially, the findings of this study suggest that the service convenience management of retailers is an important part of successful service performance management. Because it is most important that both department stores and general super markets enhance benefit convenience to improve service performance, managers of both store types need to invest their resources to reduce consumers' perceived time and effort expenditures to experience the retailer's core benefits. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that retail stores should spend human and financial resources to enhance customer perceptions of service convenience, while also considering what constitutes the service outcome in the consumer's mind. Furthermore, the findings suggest that managers need to use different service convenience management tactics in department stores and general super markets. Specifically, managers in general super markets should pay more attention to benefit convenience and transaction convenience to achieve better service performance whereas managers in department stores should concentrate on post-benefit convenience to create customers' positive evaluation.