Purchase Motives of Retail Consumers Nanostores: Evidence from Indonesia: Acces la Success

Many researchers have studied purchasing motives at retail hypermarkets and modern retail scales. However, it is still rarely found in micro or nano-scale retail stores though nanostores are much higher, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the factors that motivate someone to buy goods at the nanostore. The research was done using the explanatory survey method. The number of samples is 210 respondents. The data were process using confirmatory factor analysis. The research location is in a big city in Indonesia, namely Bandung City. This city is a city of tourism and trade. The results of the study prove that 12 factors determine consumer motives for shopping at nanostores. These 12 factors are grouped into three: product attributes, self-orientation, and service guarantees. Although this study was conducted on consumer nanostores, the study results contribute to marketing theory, where service assurance is an important part of consumers' purchase motives. This study shows the retailers must understand consumers' buying motives and use the results of this study to increase sales turnover. The results of this study, when used by retail entrepreneurs, are predicted to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Service guarantees are the main attraction for consumers to shop at nanostores and this is a new thing in the concept of purchasing motives. For the future, it is recommended to continue the study of purchase motives in modern countries. The concept of service guarantee needs to be researched to find out whether service guarantee can increase the loyalty of large, medium, and nanostore retail consumers.

An Optimization of Home Delivery Services in a Stochastic Modeling with Self and Compulsory Vacation Interruption

This study presents and discusses the home delivery services in stochastic queuing-inventory modeling (SQIM). This system consists of two servers: one server manages the inventory sales processes, and the other server provides home delivery services at the doorstep of customers. Based on the Bernoulli schedule, a customer served by the first server may opt for a home delivery service. If any customer chooses the home delivery option, he hands over the purchased item for home delivery and leaves the system immediately. Otherwise, he carries the purchased item and leaves the system. When the delivery server returns to the system after the last home delivery service and finds that there are no items available for delivery, he goes on vacation. Such a vacation of a delivery server is to be interrupted compulsorily or voluntarily, according to the prefixed threshold level. The replenishment process is executed due to the (s,Q) reordering policy. The unique solution of the stationary probability vector to the finite generator matrix is found using recursive substitution and the normalizing condition. The necessary and sufficient system performance measures and the expected total cost of the system are computed. The optimal expected total cost is obtained numerically for all the parameters and shown graphically. The influence of parameters on the expected number of items that need to be delivered, the probability that the delivery server is busy, and the expected rate at which the delivery server's self and compulsory vacation interruptions are also discussed.

Analysing Muda under COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in a Spanish supermarket

Lean service aims at identifying and eliminating Muda or waste (non-value-added activities). The purpose of this paper is to answer the research questions: Which types of waste can be observed in supermarket stores during COVID-19 pandemic? How has it impacted the operational processes in stores? An exploratory case study based on structured direct observation has been conducted. A supermarket store in a Spanish mid-size city has been selected and observed for more than 30 weeks. Methods to gather data were document analysis, direct and participative observation and informal interviews with customers and employees. Seven types of Muda (defects, motion, over-processing, inventory, overproduction, transportation, and time) were identified and measured prior to COVID-19 pandemic and after the first weeks. The results show that all types of Muda increased significantly during the first four weeks after the pandemic outbreak, but they decrease afterwards when actions were implemented by the management. Copyright © 2023 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Modeling the Optimal Grocery Store Trading Area Using Machine Learning Methods

Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed consumer behavior, which has undoubtedly affected a large number of industries. Food retail was among the sectors where the effect was significant and led to the transformation of the approach to customer interaction. A large part of consumers began to use online delivery services more, and key players were able to provide delivery of products with their own delivery services or third-party on-demand courier service companies. Undoubtedly, in addition to operational changes in retailers' business model, this also affected their investment activities. Some key players began to reduce their trading floor areas to increase financial efficiency and look for options to work in a convenience store format. In our research, we offer an approach for making the right investment decisions when opening a new store to balance financial metrics and customer satisfaction indicators, which is a key sales driver for the segment of customers who substitute delivery service for brick-and-mortar store visits. Using Machine Learning methods, we solve the task of scenario modeling of revenue and operational efficiency metrics for different areas of the store's trading floor, which allows us to identify the optimal choice for the retailer. Using traffic metrics during peak operation hours, we determine the minimal density of the trading area that will not lead to a decrease in the activity of guests inside the store. Such an approach allows us to evaluate the best format of the store, forecast the object's revenue, and recommend investment project parameters. © 2022 Copyright for this paper by its authors. Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).

Modeling Factors affecting Grocery Retail Store Choice in India Pre and Post-Covid-19 Outbreak

The Covid-19 pandemic outbreak had multi-dimensional impacts on people's daily lives. This work attempts to understand whether urban Indian households' preference for grocery stores changed after the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and identify the factors influencing grocery store choice pre and post-pandemic outbreak. The work also studied whether households assigned greater importance to supply chain sustainability factors post-pandemic outbreak. The grocery purchase behaviour of urban Indian households was studied through an online survey of 506 households conducted during the initial phase of the pandemic outbreak. The survey questionnaire included sociodemographic, store and sustainability factors and store choice. The store choice determining factors and sustainability-related factors were taken from relevant literature. Store choice models were developed using a discrete choice multinomial logit model to understand the significant determining factors for retail store choice pre and postpandemic outbreak. In the pre-pandemic situation, household size, income, discount, product quality, ambience and the relationship with the shopkeeper significantly affected store choice. However, income, discount, store distance, pack size, credit facilities and delivery issues became significant post-pandemic outbreak. The popularity of most preferred local grocers increased post-pandemic outbreak. However, for higher-income customers or those preferring discounts, local store preference decreased, and multiple sourcing increased post-pandemic outbreak. Local store patrons valued relationship, quality and convenient shopping hours. Also, households were observed to be more concerned about food safety and nutrition rather than production method and animal welfare. With multiple ripples of the pandemic and fear of resurgence, the findings of this work will be valuable for designing customer retention strategies for various store formats in India.

Understanding How the COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced Older Adults’ Grocery Shopping Habits

The ability to grocery shop is an important aspect of maintaining adequate nutritional status among older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many older adults changed their typical grocery shopping habits attempting to remain safe.To understand how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced older adults’ grocery shopping habits.In this qualitative study, a total of 23 older adults aged 60 years or older participated in individual interviews via Zoom.Data were analyzed using directed content analysis.Attempting to be cautious, most participants reported altering grocery shopping habits by shopping less frequently, using online services such as grocery pickup or delivery, or having friends or family members do the shopping. However, some participants continued shopping in stores due to poor quality produce items picked out by shoppers and safe policies implemented by stores. Also, grocery shopping in stores became incentivized as some participants viewed it as a form of entertainment, social interaction, and even physical activity during the pandemic. Although many stores offered senior shopping hours, the majority of study participants reported not using these services due to inconvenient times. Purchasing larger quantities of items and selecting more shelf stable, canned, and frozen items were also reported.Providing older adults with training and education on using online grocery shopping services may help this population have safe and simple access to healthy food items. In addition, training grocery store workers to pick out good quality produce may encourage more older adults to use these online services. Modifications to grocery store-instated senior hours should consider more convenient times to best support older adults. Because the grocery store emerged as an enjoyable place, it is especially crucial that grocery stores continue to enforce the policies that allow older adults to feel safe purchasing their groceries.

Missouri Rapid Rural Population Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 places at highest risk for severe disease or death those over 60 years of age, those with underlying health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.1 In 2019, Missouri ranked 40th out of the 50 states in cardiovascular deaths per 100,000;33rd in the percent of the population uninsured, and 29th in the percent of the population with diabetes.8 Population Health Response While the Missouri department of health is busy with surveillance, testing, and communication;and existing healthcare systems are busy providing healthcare, there are 429 faculty and staff delivering programming through the University of Missouri (MU) Extension, which reaches into every county. Because of MU Extension's long history in each county and refinement of its responsive approach, MU Extension was uniquely positioned to provide innovative population health solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic as community educators, coordinators, and advocates. Examples include: (a) 4-H specialists statewide developed and implemented nine-week programming for Missouri youth via Zoom on science-based topics with handson lessons for kids to easily replicate at home, and an opportunity for kids to post videos to a forum showcasing their activities. (b) Missouri Small Business Development Center created business resources for COVID-19, to include a step-by-step guide on how to respond to business disruption and how to manage their workforce. 4. In cooperation with other professionals in the University of Missouri System, development and dissemination of key resources for Missouri healthcare professionals to protect, diagnose and treat patients with COVID-19, as well as safeguard their communities. 5.County-specific community coordination and advocation. (a) Two Extension county engagement specialists created Madison County Food Helpers Facebook group to track and share individual and community needs;schedule volunteers to collect and deliver food to homebound individuals and the local food pantry, and staff the food pantry according to CDC guidelines.

Giving Families a Voice for Equitable Healthy Food Access in the Wake of Online Grocery Shopping.

Understanding the views of families from low-income backgrounds about inequities in healthy food access and grocery purchase is critical to food access policies. This study explored perspectives of families eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on healthy food access in physical and online grocery environments. The qualitative design used purposive sampling of 44 primary household food purchasers with children (aged ≤ 8), between November 2020-March 2021, through 11 online focus groups and 5 in-depth interviews. Grounded theory was used to identify community-level perceived inequities, including influences of COVID-19 pandemic, SNAP and online grocery services. The most salient perceived causes of inequitable food access were neighborhood resource deficiencies and public transportation limitations. Rural communities, people with disabilities, older adults, racially and ethnically diverse groups were perceived to be disproportionately impacted by food inequities, which were exacerbated by the pandemic. The ability to use SNAP benefits to buy foods online facilitated healthy food access. Delivery fees and lack of control over food selection were barriers. Barriers to healthy food access aggravated by SNAP included social stigma, inability to acquire cooked meals, and inadequate amount of monthly funds. Findings provide a foundation for policy redesign to promote equitable healthy food systems.

Artificial Intelligence Improves the Marketing of Brands

The effective usage of supermarkets is visible in customer care, quality control, inventory management, personalization, pricing, and fraud detection as well. During COVID time, when most of the brands were looking for social distancing options, artificial intelligence helped the brands in improving social distancing as well. [...]when it comes to marketing, branding, and communication in such a scenario, the influencers or marketing communicators would need to be and are finding themselves compelled to be from the knowledgeable and highly capable and equally ‘highly qualified and accomplished’ genre. The effective usage of supermarkets is visible in customer care, quality control, inventory management, personalization, pricing, and fraud detection as well. During COVID time, when most of the brands were looking for social distancing options, artificial intelligence helped the brands in improving social distancing as well. [...]when it comes to marketing, branding, and communication in such a scenario, the influencers or marketing communicators would need to be and are finding themselves compelled to be from the knowledgeable and highly capable and equally ‘highly qualified and accomplished’ genre.

Distant Sibling Caregiving Changes in the Face of COVID-19 Challenges

Having had financial management courses gave me the tools to work with his lawyer to prepare a "Durable Power of Attorney" (POA) document;speak with his accountant to determine what to do and how to submit his taxes with me signing;to distribute copies of the POA to those requiring such a document so I could discuss medical issues and accounts (telephone, television) on his behalf;and to discuss short- and longterm care policies, making sure they were up-to-date and that I understood how claims could be filed on his behalf. Because of the need of the car hauler at my brother's (western side of state) and the fact our daughter and her husband live on the eastern side of Washington (state), we loaded up the car hauler with the furniture, etc. knowing we would make an extra stop to deliver items to her. Before leaving Arkansas, the Executive Director of the facility was called and an apartment was assigned. Because my brother was coming from Washington, a 2-week quarantine period in our home was requested before he could move into the facility and, again, after the move-in. * Tote bag items to carry in truck at all times: [...]I gathered all phone numbers for doctor, accountant, lawyer, insurance agent, neighbors;hours of operation for the nearest grocery store to my brother;local post office hours (had to submit permanent address change);checkbooks from which bills are paid;UPS office (had to terminate television account and return cable box);real

Person-environment fit: a luxury good for those who can afford it?

Purpose>The study integrates organizational demography theory into person-environment fit theories to question the assumption that all employees can afford to strive for person-environment fit. The ethnic/racial diversity in organizations is investigated as a boundary condition in order to develop implications to mitigate the challenges of employees with precarious jobs, especially persons of color (POCs), in the society.Design/methodology/approach>Publicly accessible and objective data from organizations in the S&P 1500 index were collected through Compustat, ExecuComp, the Bloomberg Terminal and the websites of Fortune, the United States Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Labor. A path analysis of time-lagged data was performed to support causal relationships between the examined constructs while controlling for alternative explanations.Findings>Unsafe working conditions moderate the U-shaped relationship between ethnic/racial diversity and turnover and turn it into an inverted U-shaped relationship because employees in precarious jobs, especially POCs, cannot afford to leave unsafe working conditions. Organizations with unsafe working conditions are more likely to invest in sustainability initiatives. However, organizations' financial performance does not benefit from this investment.Originality/value>The circumstance that not all employees can afford person-environment fit and its organizational outcomes are identified and empirically tested. Scholars can integrate this boundary condition in future research. Implications for practice and policy are also derived.

Towards Post-pandemic Occupancy Patterns: Investigating Building Occupancy in New York City

Urban-scale energy simulation relies on the understanding of occupants' presence in buildings and consequently in cities. Therefore, occupancy profiles (i.e., the relative number of occupants in a specific hour of the day) are usually used in the energy simulation on the city level. However, available occupancy standard profiles are incapable of considering the dynamic nature of occupancy schedules and any changes that occurred due to contextual changes (such as the dramatic increase in remote working last year). Therefore, the need for a scalable method to generate dynamic occupancy profiles for buildings is crucial. Moreover, the targeted method should allow for tracking the changes that occur in occupancy profiles due to external disruption such as pandemics. In this context, this study aims at using the emerging mobile positioning data to generate context-specific data-driven occupancy profiles for commercial and institutional buildings in New York City. The generated profiles were then compared versus ASHRAE standard profiles for each building category. Then, the occupancy profiles were clustered for each building category, using K-means clustering algorithm. Finally, the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the peak points and shape of occupancy profiles was investigated. The results showed a significant difference between the data-driven and ASHRAE standard profiles. Additionally, a considerable variation in the shape and peak hours of the generated occupancy profile clusters was detected for some building categories. These results can be used to improve the accuracy of the urban-scale simulation models. Furthermore, they can provide a more precise evaluation of the occupant's schedules and consequently the urban scale energy consumption before field implementation of the operational strategies.

COVID-19 and Changes in Household Food Practices

Lockdown measures and the Canadian government-imposed closure of multiple non-essential businesses resulted in changes in household consumption patterns (Ker & Cardwell, 2020). [...]in Canada, consumers purchased significantly more non-perishable foods, such as rice or canned vegetables, and less fresh foods, such as bread and fresh vegetables (Statistics Canada, 2020). According to Renwick and Powell (2019), the most cited definition of food literacy is that of Vidgen and Gallegos (2014, p. 54): . . . a scaffolding that enables individuals, households, communities or nations to protect food quality through change and to build resilience in food over time. The Current Study In the spring of 2020, lockdown measures in Quebec were very strict: closure of daycares and schools, shopping malls, restaurants, and all services except essential ones;mandatory teleworking (where possible);restrictions on the number of people permitted in essential services stores (Institut national de santé publique du Québec [INSPQ], 2021).

"It just feels like I'm a kid back home, with dinner made for me and the snack cabinet full": College Students' Reflections on Food-related Experiences During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced many aspects of life and wellbeing. Eating behaviors and food habits among college students-many leaving campus and returning home mid-semester-were of particular interest for this qualitative study. Reflections from 33 students across 3 courses were analyzed using content analysis. Five major themes emerged from the data: diet changes, minimizing risk, responsibility, silver linings, and food and nutrition knowledge and skills. Several opportunities for family and consumer sciences (FCS) educators and professionals exist to help individuals and families through COVID-19 or to promote FCS classes on college campuses.

A time series projection model of online seasonal demand for American wine and potential disruption in the supply channels due to COVID-19

Purpose>This study statistically examines the shifting distribution channels in the American wine industry based on the growth trajectory of sales, seasonality and disruption due to consumers switching to online platforms. The purpose of this paper is to design a model that will have general applicability beyond the wine industry.Design/methodology/approach>The research uses regression-based additive decomposition of time series data to predict the trajectory of the market share for the digital distribution channel. The study develops a statistical prediction model using time series data between 2007 and 2020, inclusive, sourced from US Annual Wine Reports and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms databases.Findings>The results show an increasing trajectory of wine sales through the online distribution channel with predictable seasonality. The disruptive effects of consumer switching behavior point to a steady increase in sales due both to increasing demand and accelerating switching. Nevertheless, the model shows that bricks and mortar purchases will remain strong and continue to account for the bulk of wine sales. COVID-19 has caused a step function increase in online sales but this should moderate after the crisis subsides and can be tested further.Originality/value>This study is original in developing a model for an industry where bricks and mortar sales are growing and are expected to remain strong while there is still identifiable switching to online sales. The wine industry presents a classic case of accelerating switching behavior where there is still a strong franchise for in-store purchases. The model should have general applicability to distribution channels beyond the wine industry where steady growth, marked seasonality and disruptive consumer switching are in evidence.

NEHA Government Affairs Activities

The focus this year was on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) appropriations, highlighting the importance of federal funding for food safety and other environmental health objectives to the state and local environmental health profession. Environmental Health Workforce Act It appears that the Environmental Health Workforce Act, a longstanding NEHA objective, will possibly be passed this year, with Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-Michigan) including language within the House of Representatives appropriations bill requesting a study on the environmental health workforce to be performed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Representative Wittman has shown a keen interest in ensuring that the nation's retail food safety system remains safe, well stocked, and provides a wide variety of foods to consumers in the U.S. NEHA looks forward to working with Representative Wittman on future public health and food safety efforts.

Enhancing in-store picking for e-grocery: an empirical-based model

Purpose>This paper identifies, configures and analyses a solution aimed at increasing the efficiency of in-store picking for e-grocers and combining the traditional store-based option with a warehouse-based logic (creating a back area dedicated to the most required online items).Design/methodology/approach>The adopted methodology is a multi-method approach combining analytical modelling and interviews with practitioners. Interviews were performed with managers, whose collaboration allowed the development and application of an empirically-grounded model, aimed to estimate the performances of the proposed picking solution in its different configurations. Various scenarios are modelled and different policies are evaluated.Findings>The proposed solution entails time benefits compared to traditional store-based picking for three main reasons: lower travel time (due to the absence of offline customers), lower retrieval time (tied to the more efficient product allocation in the back) and lower time to manage stock-outs (since there are no missing items in the back). Considering the batching policies, order picking is always outperformed by batch and zone picking, as they allow for the reduction of the average travelled distance per order. Conversely, zone picking is more efficient than batch picking when demand volumes are high.Originality/value>From an academic perspective, this work proposes a picking solution that combines the store-based and warehouse-based logics (traditionally seen as opposite/alternative choices). From a managerial perspective, it may support the definition of the picking process for traditional grocers that are offering – or aim to offer – e-commerce services to their customers.

Understanding SNAP Recipient Characteristics to Guide Equitable Expansion of Nutrition Incentive Programs in Diverse Food Retail Settings

Structural barriers, such as food costs, reduce access to healthy foods for populations with limited income, including those benefitting from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nutrition incentive programs seek to address this barrier. Evaluations of SNAP-based incentive programming often focus on one setting (i.e., either farmers’ markets or grocery stores). We examined use patterns, characteristics, and preferences among 253 SNAP consumers with access to incentive programming at both a farmers’ market and a grocery store located within five miles of their home. Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2019 in two Ohio cities. Despite geographic access, 45% of those surveyed were not using the incentive program;most non-users (80.5%) were unaware of the program. Program users compared to non-users had higher household incomes (p < 0.001) and knew more people using the program (p < 0.001). Grocery stores were the most common setting of use (59%);29% used at farmers’ markets;11% used in both settings. User characteristics varied by store setting based on demographics, program experience, fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption patterns, and social dynamics related to use. Our findings support comprehensive awareness-raising efforts and tailored implementation of incentive programming that attends to diverse segments of SNAP consumers to promote equity in program reach.

Understanding the Online Environment for the Delivery of Food, Alcohol and Tobacco: An Exploratory Analysis of ‘Dark Kitchens’ and Rapid Grocery Delivery Services

Online spaces are increasingly important in the sale of food, alcohol and tobacco. This analysis focuses on two developments in online food delivery: delivery-only ‘dark kitchens’ and rapid grocery delivery services (RGDS), with the aim to understand and assess the availability of health harming and health promoting products through these services. Data was collected for one metropolitan local authority in London, UK, using publicly available online sources. Being explorative in nature, the analysis includes descriptive statistics and qualitative assessment. Three dark kitchens (renting kitchens to 116 food businesses), three grocery delivery apps, and 76 grocery businesses available through online delivery platforms were identified. Most businesses renting dark kitchen space were ‘virtual restaurants’ (52%) selling fast food (47%) or dessert (21%) through online delivery platforms. RGDS sold a variety of items, with a focus on pre-packaged foods high in fat, salt and sugar, alcoholic beverages and tobacco. These items were also most likely to be promoted through offers and promotional language. Fruits and vegetables were less commonly available and mainly on grocery delivery apps. Online delivery services increase the temporal and geographic availability and promotion of many unhealthy products. Research expanding on the geographic area of interest is needed.

The coronavirus’s effect on the decisions and habits of food purchases in Hungary

This article was inspired by current events. The shopping craze generated by the coronavirus pandemic raised some questions that this article aims to answer by analysing a variety of suppositions. The coronavirus pandemic caused panic shopping amongst consumers, whose motivation for increasing the volumes of shopping revolved around ensuring a safety margin of groceries while also reducing the number of shopping trips. The consumers did most of their shopping in hyper, and supermarkets, as well as in bigger ABCs and grocery stores (Lidl), where there’s a wider range of products and larger stock. The average consumer bought much more than the basic groceries during this period. Our research started in March 2020 and ended in May 2020. To validate our assumptions, primary information is derived from the statistical processing of a large number of data from a representative questionnaire survey of 724 respondents. The results show that for many people this period was about stockpiling storages of groceries. Flour saw the biggest increase in purchase volumes, but chicken and pastas were also amongst the more popular items. Stores with the biggest range of selection were able to satisfy this demand. As evidenced by data, consumers also purchased items, which are needed for any household during an emergency and are easy to store in higher volumes. These items include different oils and fats, which are required for cooking, and non-perishables, such as salamis, canned foods, rice and mineral water.