• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.517-526
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The increased consumers' interests in health and food safety have increased the demand for organic foods. Many studies have been performed on consumers' purchase intentions for organic foods and their influencing factors, and various studies have shown that the prices of organic foods and the consumers' willingness to pay are important influencing factors. This study examined the payment value of organic foods and agrifood consumer competency index according to the food-related lifestyles in South Korean consumers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using the 2019 Consumer Behavior Survey for Food. A total of 6,176 participants aged 19 to 74 years (male: 2,783, female: 3,393) were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Three factors were extracted by factor analysis (rational consumption-seeking type, convenience-seeking type, and health, and safety-seeking type) to explain the consumers' food-related lifestyles. The results of cluster analysis suggested that consumers were classified into 3 food-related lifestyles as the 'exploratory consumers' (n = 2,485), 'safety-seeking consumers' (n = 1,544), and 'passive consumers' (n = 2,147). Exploratory consumers showed a significantly higher willingness to pay for imported organic foods (P < 0.05). Safety-seeking consumers had a significantly higher willingness to pay for domestic organic foods (P < 0.05). For the agrifood consumer competency index, exploratory consumers had the highest score, followed in order by safety-seeking consumers and passive consumers. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide basic data in understanding consumption tendency for organic foods and agrifoods based on food-related lifestyles of South Korean consumers.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.123-138
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• 2024

With the increase in online shopping and delivery food consumption since the pandemic, solving environmental problems caused by single-use packaging has become an important issue. 'Upcycling' is a combination of 'Upgrade' and 'Recycle', and it is the rebirth of obsolete or discarded objects by adding new value to them, and there are currently various upcycled products on the market. In order to activate upcycling, consumers' awareness of the environment and their values for consumption are very important. This study aims to investigate the influence of students' environmental concern, environmental experience, and consumption value on their purchase intention of upcycled products. Based on the results of previous studies on environmental concern, environmental experience, and consumption value, hypotheses were set, and a survey was conducted among university students nationwide to test the hypotheses. The results of this study are as follows First, environmental concern has a significant positive effect on purchase intention of upcycled products. It can be seen that the more environmental concerns such as global warming and waste disposal problems increase, the more positive attitudes toward upcycled products increase. Second, the research hypothesis that environmental knowledge will have a positive effect on the purchase intention of upcycled products is rejected. It was found that environmental knowledge is acquired through environmental education and many SNS, but it does not have a direct effect on the purchase intention of upcycled products. Third, it was found that the consumption value of college students has a positive effect on the purchase intention of upcycled products by increasing their positive perception of upcycled products. Fourth, college students' purchase intention of upcycled products has a positive effect on their behavioral intention to purchase upcycled products. The results of the study provide implications for relevant organizations such as universities and companies to effectively design upcycling-related education. It is also expected to have a positive impact on the use of upcycled products by providing basic information on the characteristics of consumers who purchase upcycled products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify the choice attributes in the purchase of chocolate and to identify differences between the choices, by considering the purpose of purchase being self-gift or interpersonal gift. The preferred optional attributes considered and assessed were capacity, package, product composition, brand reputation, and sensuality. The survey included customers who purchased chocolates from June 1, 2017 to August 31, 2017. T-test was applied to verify the difference in optional attributes depending on the purpose of purchase. Our results indicate that people consider packages, product composition, and reputation for interpersonal gifts, and that Valentine's Day purchases are frequently for themselves and others' gifts. Our results will help to identify chocolate consumption behavior, and will facilitate in establishing chocolate product composition and development as well as brand positioning strategies, through factors affecting preferences based on the purpose of purchase.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.464-473
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze e-commerce food purchase behavior and the perceptions of adult women according to their household types. Methods: The e-commerce food purchases of 318 adult women were surveyed and analyzed according to their household types (one-person or couple household (OCH); a household with children (HC); a household with parents (HP)). Results: The total amount of food purchases over 6 months through e-commerce according to household types was in the descending order of OCH (60.3%), HC (57%), and HP (55.1%) thus showing a significant difference (P < 0.05) in behavior between household types. The reasons for purchasing food through e-commerce included: a lower price than offline (30.8%), convenient delivery and transportation (30.2%), and food diversity (21.1%). When purchasing food online, the most important factor was price and quality, followed by quick and accurate delivery for OCH, exact information given about the product for HC, and recommendation from other consumers for HP (P < 0.01). The main foods purchased through e-commerce were coffee, tea (42.1%), instant and frozen foods (39.9%), water, beverages, dairy products (37.7%), snacks, bread, rice cakes (31.5%), and functional foods (27.4%). The percentage of respondents who were very satisfied or satisfied with their e-commerce food purchases was HP (84.1%), OCH (69.9%), and HC (65.6%) in that order (P < 0.05), and 96.5% of all subjects stated that they would be willing to purchase food through e-commerce in the future. The advantages of purchasing food through e-commerce were seen to be the highest in order and payment convenience with 4.1 points out of 5, followed by low price (4.0), variety of products (3.9), and ease of food purchase (3.9). Among the disadvantages listed, concerns about product damage and deterioration during delivery and differences between the displayed product and the delivered product were the highest with 3.7 points. Conclusions: The characteristics and perceptions of female consumers according to household types are important factors in enhancing the reach of e-commerce, and in preparing guidelines for food selection through e-commerce.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.259-274
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• 2008

This study was designed to analyze the possibility to enter the Chinese market aggressively by giving light on the factors which have effects on the continuous intention of Shanghai consumers to purchase environment-friendly foods, and the purchase of Korean environment-friendly foods. The objects of analysis were the 209 consumers living in Shanghai, China. As for the analysis method, the frequency, percentage, crossing analysis, $X^2$-test and logistic regression analysis were carried out, making use of SPSS PC+ 13.0. The study results are as follows. Firstly, it was identified that the decisive factors, such as good taste, health of family, freshness, food shop in a department store, international quality authentication, diversity of items and number of family members, had effects on the possibility that the consumers in Shanghai, China would purchase environment friendly foods continuously, showing the meaningful variables. Secondly, as for the decisive factors having effects on the possibility to buy Korean environment friendly foods continuously, it was identified that good taste, health of family, freshness and price cutting were the meaningful variables. Therefore, it is necessary that to set up a export promotion strategy to make the Shanghai consumers get interested in Korean environment-friendly foods and choose to buy the foods.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of eating habits and dietary attitudes on dessert consumption among university students in Gwangju Province, South Korea. Methods: A survey was conducted from May to June 2022. Out of 300 distributed questionnaires, 261 valid responses were included in the analysis. The survey assessed dessert selection, satisfaction, consumer attitudes and behaviors, as well as factors influencing satisfaction. Results: Both genders reported purchasing desserts 2 to 3 times per week, primarily after lunch, due to the convenience of dessert accessibility. Males favored ice cream, bakery items, and fruits, while females preferred bakery items, ice cream, and fruits in that sequence. 'Having fun' was identified as the most common motivation for dessert consumption post-meal. Notable gender disparities emerged regarding perceptions of dessert consumption, including its role in stress relief, potential for nutritional imbalance, positive effects, and preferences for seasonal menus. Significant gender-based differences also manifested in intentions to purchase dessert, responsiveness to price changes, and inclination to recommend desserts to others. Conclusions: This study offers foundational data on university students' dessert purchasing behaviors, perceptions, and satisfaction levels, intending to inform strategies promoting healthier dietary habits.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.300-308
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• 2019

Objectives: This research was conducted to identify the consumers' food choice factors that affect the consumers' replacement of soft drinks with carbonated water. Methods: The present study used secondary data from a consumer panel survey conducted by the Rural Development Administration of Korea, and the data included the panel members' purchase records based on their monthly spending receipts. The survey asked the participants about their food choice factors and their personal responsibility for their health. This survey included independent variables for the consumers' food purchase factors. As a dependent variable, two types of groups were defined. The replacement group included those people who increased their purchase of carbonated water and decreased their purchase of soft drinks. The non-replacement group included those people who did not change their purchase patterns or they increased their purchase of soft drinks and they decreased their purchase of carbonated water. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the consumers' food choice factors that were associated with replacing soft drinks with carbonated water. Results: The replacement group was significantly associated with (1) a younger age (OR=0.953), (2) being a housewife (OR=2.03), (3) higher income (OR=1.001) and (4) less concern about price (OR=0.819) when purchasing food. This group also showed (5) higher enjoyment (OR=1.328) when choosing food and (6) they took greater responsibly for their personal health (OR=1.233). Conclusions: This research is the first study to mainly focus on soft drinks and carbonated water. The result of this research showed that young, health-conscious consumers with a higher income and who are more interested in food have more possibilities to replace soft drinks with carbonated water. These research findings may be applied to consumers who have characteristics that are similar to the young health-conscious consumers and the results can help to suggest ways to reduce sugar intake and improve public health. However, this research has a limitation due to the application of secondary data. Therefore, a future study is needed to develop detailed survey questions about food choice factors and to extend these factors to all beverages, including soft drinks made with sugar substitutes, so as to reflect the growth of alternative industries that use artificial sweeteners or different types of sugar to make commercially available drinks.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.440-451
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information on nutrition education for proper meal purchase habits by conducting a survey on the adolescents' meal purchases, which is gradually increasing nowadays. The survey was conducted on 311 middle school students living in Gyeonggi province. The largest number of students (79.1%) received an allowance under '2,000 won'. Among those students who received a daily allowance, 70.7% of students spent under '1000 won' a day on meal purchases. Most students answered 'meal purchase is necessary'. Of the reasons for thinking that meal purchases are necessary, 'for staving off hunger' took the highest ratio (67.1%). As for standards of food choice, the largest number of students answered 'taste' (57.6%). As for frequency of meal purchases, most students answered 'once or twice a week', and with regard to day of the week, 'weekdays' took the highest ratio. As for possibility of balanced nutrition by meal purchases, the answer 'surely possible' took the highest ratio. Asked whether or not one had learned nutrition education on meal purchases, 73% answered 'no'. Asked about the necessity of nutrition education on meal purchases, 'necessary once' took the highest ratio. The most preferred purchase meals were breads, snacks was ranked second, followed by frozen foods, beverages, fast-foods, rice-cakes, flour-based foods, ice-cream, and fruits. To sum up the results, most students perceived that meal purchases are necessary. However, high quality meal purchases were not achieved, as most of the students did not verify nutrition labeling, and placed emphasis on 'taste'. Further, many students wanted nutrition education on meal purchases while only a few had actually received it. Therefore, systemic, regular, and multilateral nutrition education conducted at home, school, and society will contribute to establishing proper meal purchase habits.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.380-385
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• 2006

A total 178 housewives in Gyoungnam province were surveyed with regard to branded pork purchasing behavior. The results of this study suggest the existence of income and age differences in attitudes toward branded pork. Based on the collected survey data, income level plays a significant role in the information/perception channel (p<0.01), purchasing power associated with brand name value (p<0.1), and attitudes toward quality assurance (p<0.01) of branded pork. Consumer age was significantly different with regard to the purchase place (p<0.05) and purchase frequency (p<0.1) of branded pork.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to practically analyze the effect of the brand equity of Korean food companies in Vietnam on the brand attitude and purchase intention of Vietnamese consumers. Research design, data, and methodology - In total, 240 subjects were examined in this study. The collected data were analyzed using statistical programs SPSS 21 and AMOS 21. The credibility of the variables was examined using the exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The hypothesis was examined through the structural equation model analysis. Results - It is proven that brand image and perceived quality are accepted, and the brand awareness is rejected from the hypothesis that "the brand equity has a positive effect on the brand attitude". However, the brand image and brand awareness are accepted, and the perceived quality is rejected from the hypothesis that "the brand equity has a positive effect on the purchase intention". Conclusions - The following are the conclusions of the study. First, among the components of brand equity, the brand image is confirmed to positively affect both brand attitude and purchase intention. Second, high brand awareness does not necessarily lead to positive brand attitudes of the consumers. Third, The brand image appears to positively affect the brand attitude and purchase intention. However, the awareness of consumers of a brand does not directly lead to positive consumer attitudes.