Organic Foods in Thailand: The Study of Attitude, Perception,
and Purchasing Intention Among Generation-Z
Satish Kumar Awale
Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) – Ongoing, University of Thai Chambers of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand
https://doi.org/10.47191/jefms/v6-i9-22ABSTRACT:
The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the growth in organic food consumption by 50%. In particular, the Generation-Z cohort have had recognized the importance and relevance of organic food consumption. Considering such, this study aimed to investigate the Thai Generation-Z consumers’ attitude, perception, and purchasing intention towards organic food. Generation-Z were the main target respondents for this paper, in particular – those from Thailand. The health-belief model was adopted by the researcher, with the independent variables comprising perceived risks, perceived benefits, and personal values, and the dependent variable being purchasing intention of organic food. It is presumed that the attitude towards organic food is the mediating variable between the independent and dependent variables. The research results were statistically analysed using the ANOVA regression. The analysis revealed that, perceived risks, perceived benefits, and personal values had a significant influence on attitude towards organic product, wherein, perceived risks and perceived benefits held a negative influence, with personal values holding a positive influence. Simultaneously, the attitude towards organic product was found to have no significant relationship with purchasing intention of organic food. These findings contribute to the understanding of marketers on promulgating the promotion for organic food.
KEYWORDS:
Generation Z, Organic Food, Perception, Attitude, Purchase Intention
REFERENCES:
1) Baker, B. P., Benbrook, C. M., Groth, E. & Benbrook, K. L. (2002) Pesticide residues in conventional, IPM-grown and organic foods: Insights from three U.S. data sets, Food Additives and Contaminants, 19, 427-446.
2) Becker, M. H. (1974). The health belief model and personal health behavior. Health Education Monographs, 2, 324–473.
3) Chen, M.F. (2007). Consumer attitudes and purchase intentions in relation to organic foods in Taiwan: moderating effects of food-related personality traits. Food Quality and preference, 18(7), 1008-1021.
4) Cision (2020). Gen Z & millennial consumers naturally favour organic foods & beverages, reports packaged facts. Retrieved from: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/Generation-z-and-millennial-consumers-naturally-favor-organic-foods-and-beverages-reports-packaged-facts-300982951.html
5) Darker, C., (2013). Risk perception. Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. New York: Springer.
6) Dreezens, E., Martijin, C., Tenbult, P., Kok, G. & Vries, N. K. (2005) Food and values: an examination of values underlying attitudes toward genetically modified and organically grown food products, Appetite, 44, 115-122
7) Emese, C. Z., (2016). The Z generation. Acta Technologica Dubnicae, 6(2), 63-76.
8) Eom, Y. S. (1994). Pesticide residue risk and food safety valuation: A random utility approach. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 76, 760-771.
9) Fam, K. S., de Run, E. C., Shukla, P., & Weng, J. T. (2013). Consumers' personal values and sales promotion preferences effect on behavioural intention and purchase satisfaction for consumer product. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 25(1), 70-101.
10) Farrell, W. C., & Phungsoonthorn, T. (2020). Generation Z in Thailand. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, 20(1), 25-51.
11) FSA (2020). The future consumer – Food & Generation Z. Retrieved from: https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/generation-z-full-report-final.pdf
12) Gifford, K. & Bernard, J.C. (2005) Influencing consumer purchase likelihood of organic food, International Journal of Consumer Studies, 30(2), 156-163
13) Hamm, U., Gronefeld, F. & Halpin, D. (2002). Analysis of the European market for organic food: Organic marketing initiatives and rural development. PDF.
14) Harper, G. C., & Makatouni, A. (2002). Consumer Perception of Organic Food Production and Farm Animal Welfare. British Food Journal, 104(3), 287-299.
15) Homer, P. M., & Kahle, L. R. (1988). A structural equation test of the value-attitude-behavior hierarchy. Journal of Personality and social Psychology, 54(4), 638.
16) Huang, C. L. (1993). Simultaneous-equation model for estimating consumer risk perceptions, attitudes, and willingness-to-pay for residue-free produce. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 27, 377-396
17) IFT (2020). Organic food sales hit $50 billion in 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/news/2020/june/10/organic-food-sales-hit-$50-billion-in-2019
18) Israel, G. D. (1992). Determining sample size.
19) Kamenidou, I. E., Stavrianea, A., & Bara, E. Z. (2020). Generational differences toward organic food behaviour: Insights from five generational cohorts. Sustainability, 12(6), 2299.
20) Kottala, S. Y., & Singh, R. (2015). A review of sustainability, deterrents, personal values, attitudes & purchase intentions in the organic food supply chain. Pacific Science Review B: Humanities & Social Sciences, 1(3), 114-123.
21) Kropp, F., Lavack, A. M., & Silvera, D. H. (2005). Values and collective self‐esteem as predictors of consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence among university students. International Marketing Review, 22(1), 7-33.
22) Kymäläinen, T., Seisto, A., & Malila, R. (2021). Generation Z Food Waste, Diet & Consumption Habits: A Finnish Social Design Study with Future Consumers. Sustainability, 13(4), 2124.
23) Leung, Y., 2013. Perceived benefits. Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. New York: Springer.
24) Lim, P., & Parker, A. (2020). Mentoring Millennials in an Asian Context. Emerald Publishing Limited.
25) Lin, Y., Yang, S., Hanifah, H., & Iqbal, Q. (2018). An exploratory study of consumer attitudes toward green cosmetics in the UK market. Administrative Sciences, 8(4), 71.
26) Lockie, S., Lyons, K., Lawrence, G., & Grice, J. (2004). Choosing Organics: A Path Analysis of Factors underlying the Selection of Organic food among Australian Consumers. Appetite, 43(2), 135-146.
27) Naspetti, S. & Zanoli, R. (2006) Organic food quality and safety perception throughout Europe, EAAE Seminar. PDF.
28) Padel, S. & Foster, C. (2005) Exploring the gap between attitudes and behaviour: Understanding why consumers buy or do not buy organic food. British Food Journal, 107(8), 606-625.
29) Pellegrini, G. & Farinello, F. (2009). Organic consumers and new lifestyles. An Italian country survey on consumption patterns. British Food Journal, 111(9), 948-974.
30) Pribadi, E. T., & Devy, S. R. (2020). Application of the Health Belief Model on the intention to stop smoking behavior among young adult women. Journal of Public Health Research, 9(2), 21-37.
31) Rizzo, G., Borrello, M., Dara Guccione, G., Schifani, G., & Cembalo, L. (2020). Organic food consumption: The relevance of the health attribute. Sustainability, 12(2), 595.
32) Rosenstock, I. M. (1966). Why people use health services. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 44, 94–127.
33) Statista (2021). Share of consumers who purchased organic or natural beauty & personal care products in the United States in 2018, by generation. Retrieved from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1077900/natural-organic-beauty-product-consumers-by-generation-in-the-us/
34) Statista (2021). Worldwide sales of organic food from 1999 to 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/273090/worldwide-sales-of-organic-foods-since-1999/
35) Tajeddini, K., & Nikdavoodi, J. N. (2014). Cosmetic buying behavior: examining the effective factors. Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, 24(4), 395-410.
36) Upenn (2021). HBM – Main Constructs. Retrieved from: https://www.med.upenn.edu/hbhe4/part2-ch3-main-constructs.shtml
37) Vindigni, G., Janssen, M.A. & Jager, W. (2002). Organic food consumption: A multi-theoretical framework of consumer decision making, British Food Journal, 104(8), 624-642.
38) Yazdanpanah, M., Forouzani, M., & Hojjati, M. (2015). Willingness of Iranian young adults to eat organic foods: Application of the Health Belief Model. Food quality & preference, 41, 75-83.