Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Roberta Capitello Author-Name: Diego Diego Begalli Author-Name: Maurizio Canavari Author-Name: Sedef Akg?ng?r Author-Name: Valeria Borsellino Author-Name: Alessio Cavicchi Author-Name: Catherine Chan Author-Name: Alessio Ishizaka Author-Name: Simona Naspetti Author-Name: S?ren Marcus Pedersen Author-Name: Stefanella Stranieri Title: Editorial Abstract: Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-6 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71931&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa14714 Number: 1 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Giulia Maesano Author-Name: Manal Hamam Author-Name: Biagio Pecorino Author-Name: Gioacchino Pappalardo Author-Name: Mario D'Amico Author-Name: Gaetano Chinnici Title: Trends in consumers? preferences towards fresh-cut vegetables during the Covid-19 pandemic Abstract: The fresh-cut sector has shown a positive trend in recent years, due to the "ease of use" and the increasing innovation in the quality and safety features of these products. However, in Italy, a negative trend was observed during the lockdown Covid-19. The objective of this study is to investigate consumer preferences for fresh-cut products and to identify the sensory and extrinsic attributes that influence consumer choice. It also examines whether consumer behaviour has changed during the lockdown Covid-19. An online questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 427 consumers. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to identify preferences for specific types of fresh-cut products; then, a factor analysis was conducted to highlight key socioeconomic variables and product attributes. Finally, a cluster analysis was conducted to identify homogeneous consumer groups. The results indicate that some attributes, including "ease of use", "texture" and "colour" show a high level of interest and appreciation by consumers. The outcomes also reveal that there has been a change in consumer attitudes during the lockdown Covid-19, mainly for reasons related to the difficulty in food procurement, the fear of contagion during purchasing occasion, and higher prices. The findings of this research contribute to the knowledge of consumers? behaviour towards fresh-cut products in the period of lockdown Covid-19. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-22 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71932&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13283 Number: 2 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71932 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Brunella Arru Author-Name: Roberto Furesi Author-Name: Pietro Pulina Author-Name: Paola Sau Author-Name: Fabio A. Madau Title: The Circular Economy in the Agri-food system: A Performance Measurement of European Countries Abstract: Agriculture and the agri-food industry are central to fostering economic growth and the Sustainable Development Goals? targets. However, to meet the world?s future development, it is necessary to make the agri-food system more resource-efficient. The transition towards the circular economy (CE) paradigm is commonly seen as a promising strategy to overcome the critical issues affecting the sector. However, different theoretical and practical problems still need to be solved. Specifically, the CE performance measurement of specific sectors or national systems is crucial as it helps to identify and correct any deviation from the vision set out for achieving the sustainable development objectives. This article aims to contribute to CE research, focusing on European agriculture and the agri-food sector. Drawing on the EE-MRIO database EXIOBASE v3.7, this paper estimates the level of circularity in the European Union countries and the role of agriculture and agri-food in determining circularity. Results showed that circularity in the EU is low and significant differences between countries exist. Agriculture contributes to 80.5% of the entire amount of recycled materials in Europe. Vice versa, the contribution provided by the agri-food sector is limited to 1%. Some policy implications derive from this study. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-35 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71933&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13245 Number: 3 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71933 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bianca Polenzani Author-Name: Andrea Marchini Title: Does the Covid-19 affect food consumption patterns? A Transaction Cost Perspective Abstract: The purpose of this research is to study transaction costs and their antecedents, in relation to the willingness to buy groceries online in Italy, and to observe the effect of Covid-19 is having in those. The study used a positivist deductive approach to the theory development. To evaluate the relations, we developed a PLS-SEM using SmartPLS version 3.3.3, and tested the model using WarpPLS 7.0. The pandemic?s discomforts impact significantly the willingness to buy food online, and it is also a mediator between transaction costs and willingness to buy online. The findings may help those manufacturers struggling with low-performing e-commerce during the Covid-19 pandemic. When restrictions are enforced, manufacturers should take action to reduce the uncertainty associated with online shopping. From the political point of view, it highlights the need for institutional help in organising online supply chains. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-28 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71934&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13161 Number: 4 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71934 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Valentina Maria Merlino Author-Name: Stefano Massaglia Author-Name: Simone Blanc Author-Name: Filippo Brun Author-Name: Danielle Borra Title: Differences between Italian specialty milk in large-scale retailing distribution Abstract: The specialty milk market in Italy has shown positive trends in recent years. Companies, from small producers to market leaders, continue to invest in differentiating their product lines, increasingly orienting their production choices towards specialties linked to sustainability and health benefits. This trend not only meets the needs of consumers, who are increasingly attentive to sustainable and healthy foods, but it also has a significant impact on the production and profitability of milk companies. Thus, this research aims to analyse the composition of specialty cow milk assortments in different large-scale retail (LSR) stores in North-West Italy. The objectives were to define the assortment depth of sustainable and health-focused milk categories, as well as the marketing policies currently applied in the LSR market for such products. Differences in the assortment of seven specialty product categories were evaluated with regard to brands, milk origin and packaging material, using the Correspondence Analysis. Price differences between product categories were analysed using ANOVA and comparing the product brands and the different formats of large-scale retailers. The main results highlight the key characteristics and differences of the specialty milk supply, taking into consideration the main sales channel of this type of product. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-28 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71935&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13173 Number: 5 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71935 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Paula Moutinho Author-Name: In?s Andrade Author-Name: Angela Macedo Title: Functional food consumption by Portuguese university community: Knowledge, barriers and motivators Abstract: This study aims to understand the attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions concerning the consumption of Functional Foods (FF) and to analyze the modulating role of some socio-demographic factors. Cross-sectional study recruited a random stratified sample from universities. A web-based questionnaire was applied and data were analyzed using SPSS and FACTOR software. A large percentage of the respondents consumes FF regularly, mainly in intermediate meals, despite their poor knowledge about FF. Taste, price, convenience, lack of knowledge on how much to consume, and uncertainty on how to prepare FF are barriers to consumption. Consumers feel the need to eat it, believe in its safety, and have more confidence in the products than those who do not consume them. Benefits are not a motivator for the consumption. Bachelors and women are those that consume more FF in a daily/weekly basis; although age and scientific area did not have impact on the frequency consumption. The findings help national and multinational food companies identify target market segments where introducing FF or increasing existing FF are most likely to succeed. These need to provide consumers with appropriate or relevant health claims, to help them make satisfactory food choices; such as, clear information on labelling, better online marketing strategies, and promotional activities. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-29 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71936&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13258 Number: 6 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71936 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Gustavo Magalh?es de Oliveira Author-Name: Gaetano Martino Author-Name: Chiara Riganelli Author-Name: Michela Ascani Title: Sustainable transition and food democracy: The role of decision making process in Solidarity Purchasing Groups Abstract: This study investigates how the decision making process in Solidarity Purchasing Groups (SPGs), intended as hybrid organizations, supports the sustainability transition in food systems. The process of sustainability transition in food systems involves many kinds of tensions, especially in the process of pursuing a multiplicity of economic, social and environmental objectives. This study focuses on the SPGs in Italy and study how they organize their internal decision-making process and their search for the group objectives. This paper argues that the decentralization of the decision rights in SPGs sustains the integration of such different objectives and coordinates efficiently the multifaceted values of their members. The empirical analysis shows that the decision rights are decentralized and that the decentralized decision rights positions in solidarity purchasing groups are associated with the pursuing of different objectives. Our findings indicate that SPGs contributes to the transitions toward sustainability in food systems by using organizational democracy mechanisms to coordinate tensions among social, market and environmental values. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-34 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71937&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13053 Number: 7 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71937 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Riccardo Vecchio Title: Fostering the debate among scholars to support the advancement of knowledge in the food-related consumer research: A commentary Abstract: In this commentary, I aim to highlight some issues currently challenging the advancement of knowledge in the food-related consumer research academic community. Retracing the sections of a research paper, several strategic writing practices authors use to please reviewers are outlined together with customary referee comments considerably popular nowadays (as paper originality; sample size and external validity; and risk of bias). These odds in the current publishing and reviewing practices, which are also under transition and in an ongoing shift, need thorough discussion among the academic community. The overall goal of the commentary is to foster debate and reflection among editors and scholars to better define the possible boundaries of good contributions to knowledge and the precise guidelines to prevent (potentially) detrimental practices on both sides. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages:1-15 Volume: 24 Year: 2022 Issue:2 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=71938&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:ecaqec:v:html10.3280/ecag2022oa13657 Number: 8 X-File-Ref: http://www.francoangeli.it/Riviste/References.ashx?idArticolo=71938