home    about    browse    search    latest    help 
Login | Create Account

Consumers’ purchase of organic food products. A matter of convenience and reflexive practices

Hjelmar, Ulf (2011) Consumers’ purchase of organic food products. A matter of convenience and reflexive practices. Appetite, 56 (2), pp. 336-344.

[thumbnail of 18797.pdf] PDF - Published Version - English
Limited to [Depositor and staff only]

333kB

Document available online at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6WB2-51TGFYF-1-1&_cdi=6698&_user=6461223&_pii=S0195666310008457&_origin=browse&_zone=rslt_list_item&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2011&_sk=999439997&wchp=dGLzVlz-zSkzk&md5=9e37e54378af7c0b8c4c8dba76a4b552&ie


Summary

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the purchase of organic food products by consumers and to explore the main factors driving this process. This paper uses evidence from 16 in-depth interviews with consumers in Denmark carried out in 2008–2009. On the basis of the analysis two broad concepts are suggested: convenience behaviours and reflexive practices. Convenience behaviours are characteristic of pragmatic organic consumers. This type of shopping behaviour requires organic foods to be available in the local supermarket, they have to be clearly visible (preferably with an eco-label), and the price differential vis-à-vis conventional products have to be minimal. The analysis also showed that politically/ethically minded consumers have reflexive practices when purchasing organic food products: health considerations, ethical considerations (animal welfare), political considerations (environmentalism) and quality considerations (taste) play an important part for these consumers. Reflexive shopping practices can be sparked by life events (e.g. having children), “shocking” news about conventional food products and similar events, and news capable of creating a “cognitive dissonance” among consumers. The Danish case illustrates that the government needs to actively implement reforms and promote activities which make organic products a convenient choice for the pragmatic oriented consumer if their market share is to increase substantially.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:Consumer; Convenience; Reflexive practice; Organic food; Food choice; Denmark
Subjects: Values, standards and certification
Values, standards and certification > Consumer issues
Research affiliation: Denmark > DARCOF III (2005-2010) > CONCEPTS - The Future Outlook for the Organic Market in Denmark
ISSN:0195-6663
DOI:10.1016/j.appet.2010.12.019
Deposited By: Andersen, Assistant Professor Laura M
ID Code:18797
Deposited On:17 May 2011 10:31
Last Modified:17 May 2011 10:31
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics