Search Results (141)

The increasing demand for plant-based foods has led to significant growth in the availability, at a retail level, of plant-based cheese analogue products. This study presents the first comprehensive benchmarking of commercially available plant-based cheese analogue (PBCA) products in the Irish market, comparing them against conventional cheddar and processed dairy cheeses. A total of 16 cheese products were selected from Irish retail outlets, comprising five block-style plant-based analogues, seven slice-style analogues, two cheddar samples, and two processed cheese samples. Results showed that plant-based cheese analogues had significantly lower protein content (0.1–1.7 g/100 g) than cheddar (25 g/100 g) and processed cheese (12.9–18.2 g/100 g) and lacked a continuous protein matrix, being instead stabilized largely by solid fats, starch, and hydrocolloids. While cheddar showed the highest hardness, some plant-based cheeses achieved comparable hardness using texturizing agents but still demonstrated lower tan δ_max values, indicating inferior melting behaviour. Thermograms of differential scanning calorimetry presented a consistent single peak at ~20 °C across most vegan-based variants, unlike the dual-phase melting transitions observed in dairy cheeses. Sensory analysis further highlighted strong negative associations between PBCAs and consumer-relevant attributes such as flavour, texture, and overall acceptability. By integrating structural, functional, and sensory findings, this study identifies key formulation and performance deficits across cheese formats and provides direction for targeted improvements in next-generation PBCA product development. Full article

Corporate environmental claims often neglect the substantial ecological impact of land-use changes. This case study examines the spatial dimension of retail-driven land-use transformation by analyzing supermarket expansion in the Veneto region (northern Italy), with a focus on a large grocery retailer. We evaluated its corporate environmental claims by assessing land consumption patterns from 1983 to 2024 using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The GIS-based methodology involved geocoding 113 Points of Sale (POS—individual retail outlets), performing photo-interpretation of historical aerial imagery, and classifying land-cover types prior to construction. We applied spatial metrics such as total converted surface area, land-cover class frequency across eight categories (e.g., agricultural, herbaceous, arboreal), and the average linear distance between afforestation sites and POS developed on previously rural land. Our findings reveal that 65.97% of the total land converted for Points of Sale development occurred in rural areas, primarily agricultural and herbaceous lands. These landscapes play a critical role in supporting urban biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services, which are increasingly threatened by unchecked land conversion. While the corporate sustainability reports and marketing strategies emphasize afforestation efforts under their “We Love Nature” initiative, our spatial analysis uncovers no evidence of actual land-use conversion. Additionally, reforestation activities are located an average of 40.75 km from converted sites, undermining their role as effective compensatory measures. These findings raise concerns about selective disclosure and greenwashing, driving the need for more comprehensive and transparent corporate sustainability reporting. The study argues for stronger policy frameworks to incentivize urban regeneration over greenfield development and calls for the integration of land-use data into corporate sustainability disclosures. By combining geospatial methods with content analysis, the research offers new insights into the intersection of land use, business practices, and environmental sustainability in climate-vulnerable regions. Full article

The private sector in Tanzania has played an essential role in improving coverage and access to mosquito nets. This follow-up study assessed the overall market share for untreated and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and misleading or counterfeit ITN products in commercial markets. This study was conducted from March to April 2024 in ten regions in Tanzania. The study used mixed methods: (1) a quantitative survey among sampled outlets supported by photographic documentation of all net products and (2) key informant interviews of retailers and wholesalers. We assessed the relationship between market share and population access using ANOVA and Pearson correlation. No counterfeit or misleading nets were found, consistent with results from 2017, 2021, and 2022 surveys. Untreated nets dominated all markets, comprising 99% of all products observed and 99% of estimated net sales 3 months before the survey. Legitimate ITNs were crowded out from the studied markets. Leaked nets from free distributions were present but extremely limited (1%) and at their lowest level of the survey rounds. Untreated nets were more expensive than leaked ITNs for both regular- and queen-size nets. Despite ongoing efforts, increasing the share of legitimate ITNs remains a significant challenge in a context of large-scale public sector distributions. Full article

This study utilised the fatty acid (FA) profiles of cosmetic argan oils from various producers obtained from retail outlets in Poland, Turkey and Morocco between November 2022 and November 2023 as an indicator to control the quality (i.e., purity) and origin (i.e., geographical origin) of the oils. The fatty acid profile was analysed using gas chromatography (GC), which revealed that the most prevalent fatty acid in argan oil is oleic acid (C18:1), followed by linoleic acid (C18:2) and, in order, palmitic acid (C16:0). Furthermore, the ¹H NMR spectroscopy method was found to be both rapid and precise in identifying characteristic signals indicative of the presence of individual components (fatty acids) in argan oil, without the necessity for additional analyte processing. To analyse the results obtained, a PCA analysis was performed to discriminate between seven purified argan oil samples. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing certain variables as authenticity and quality criteria. In the context of argan oils, the incorporation of limits for trans fatty acids and the capacity to discern origin through fatty acid profiling may prove to be of paramount importance. The results obtained demonstrated highly significant discrimination of five groups by region and three groups by preparation. Full article

The aim of this study was to compare selected physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of ricotta cheeses supplied by different producers and purchased from retail outlets in Poland. The experiment was performed on 40 fresh, unripened ricotta cheeses purchased from hypermarkets in the city of Olsztyn, Poland. The cheeses were supplied by four producers. To preserve the producers’ anonymity, the cheeses were divided into four experimental groups marked with the letters A, B, C, and D. Each group consisted of 10 cheeses supplied by the same producer. Immediately after purchase, the cheeses were transported to a laboratory for quantitative and qualitative analyses to determine their moisture contents, active and titratable acidity, shear force, color parameters (L*, a*, b*), chroma (C*), hue angles (h°), whiteness indexes (WIs), yellowness indexes (YIs), and sensory quality. The analyses revealed that the cheeses supplied by producers C and D were characterized by the highest moisture contents and the lowest titratable acidity and shear force values. The ricottas supplied by producer A were characterized by the highest values for lightness on the surface, whereas the group B cheeses were characterized by the highest contribution of redness and yellowness, as well as the highest color saturation (chroma). The contributions of redness and yellowness, chroma, and YI values were highest at the cross-sections of the group B cheeses. The cheeses supplied by producer D were characterized by visible spaces between grains, cracks, and a brittle, crumbly consistency, and they received the lowest scores for appearance at the cross-section for structure and consistency. Full article

The rational spatial layout of retail businesses is the foundation for promoting urban economic sustainable development and meeting the growing material living needs of residents. Meanwhile, the spatial correlation between commercial establishments and the population is one of the key factors in achieving a rational spatial layout. This study explores the spatial distribution of retail businesses and its coupling relationship with group activity levels in the central urban area of Chengdu, using a coupling model based on NPP–VIIRS nighttime light images and points of interest (POI) data from various retail outlets in 2023. Results indicate that the spatial distribution of retail commerce in Chengdu exhibits the characteristics of multi-center agglomeration, which is generally consistent with the population distribution. However, the distribution patterns vary among retail areas with different degrees of coupling. In terms of coupling coordination degree distribution, all retail categories show a similar trend to that of Chengdu. The analysis reveals that the retail category significantly influences the coupling degree distribution, while geographical location greatly affects the coupling coordination degree. This research will offer a reference for optimizing a city’s commercial spatial structure and scientifically planning enterprise outlet layouts. Full article

This study examines the collaborative impact of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) between shopping mall management and retailers on customer traffic. Through a multiple case study involving 30 interviews with managers from various traditional shopping malls and factory outlets, the research highlights how tailored CRM strategies, such as tenant mix, accessibility, and customer engagement, foster customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately affect performance. Mall management focuses on attracting visitors by building a strong mall image and creating partnerships, whereas retailers emphasize customer retention through loyalty programs and personalized services. The study finds that proactive, collaborative CRM efforts, such as setting shared objectives and aligning strategies, significantly enhance customer experience and mall performance. However, existing CRM measurement systems often overlook the integrated nature of mall and retailer relationships, limiting the assessment of CRM outcomes. This research proposes an integrated model to assess CRM effectiveness across multiple organizational levels, providing insights into optimizing CRM policies to drive customer satisfaction, retention, and mall success. Limitations include the study’s focus on physical malls, with future research suggested to explore CRM adaptations bridging physical retail and e-commerce environments. Full article

Consumers perceive the level of organic food prices as the major obstacle to increasing purchases. The main objective of the presented study is to recognize the differences between the prices of organic and non-organic food (so-called price premiums) in the Polish organic food market. Consequently, in order to determine these differences, prices of organic and non-organic food were noted in 45 retail outlets providing both types of food products. The investigation was performed within the Poznań agglomeration for nine months, from October 2022 to June 2023. The research showed that organic food price premiums ranged between 35% and over 270%. The lowest premiums were observed in tomato passata, cereal and dairy products, and eggs and olive oil. The highest occurred in chocolate, tea, juices, rapeseed oil, and chicken. Compared to previous studies, premiums observed in the conducted research, although high, have decreased for most investigated products. Moreover, the differences in price premiums were noted depending on the outlet type—they were lower in supermarket and hypermarket chains than in small retail shops. It should be highlighted that measures to maintain organic market development should be carried out with particular emphasis on the continued participation of retail chains in the distribution of organic food and the increased participation of large companies in processing organic food. Full article

Background/Objectives: Unhealthy dietary habits are associated with chronic non-communicable diseases and may contribute to increased mortality in all countries of the world. Food environments determine the accessibility, availability, and promotion of food, thus playing an important role in people’s diets, but they are context-dependent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability and accessibility of food in food outlets in different neighborhoods of the city of Alicante. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Trained researchers conducted food store audits using the validated Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores for Mediterranean contexts (NEMS-S-MED) tool. Data were collected from food stores within a socioeconomically diverse sample in Alicante (n = 63). We compared the availability and affordability of “healthier–less healthy” food pairs, scores between food store types (supermarkets, specialized, convenience stores, and others), and socioeconomic levels in Alicante in 2022. Results: The present study highlights that the food stores with the greatest availability and accessibility to healthy foods are supermarkets, as opposed to specialized stores and convenience stores. In addition, differences were found in the accessibility and availability of healthy foods by neighborhoods with different income levels, being more accessible in the residential neighborhood with the highest income level. Tourism could explain the differences in the food retail environment, with a high-income neighborhood showing similar results to low-income neighborhoods. Conclusions: The results obtained invite reflection on the development and adoption of policy strategies that promote the availability and accessibility of healthy food in the most disadvantaged areas. Full article

The retail industry is a crucial element of the urban commercial framework, and its spatial configuration profoundly influences its urban planning, infrastructure development, resource allocation, and sustainable development. Based on the point of interest (POI) data for Ningbo’s retail industry in eastern China, this study used methodologies such as kernel density estimation, buffer analysis, and local spatial autocorrelation analysis to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of Ningbo’s retail industry. The findings are as follows. First, the spatial distribution of Ningbo’s retail industry exhibits a “block aggregation and multi-center development” pattern. The overall trend is oriented from northwest to southeast. Second, various retail outlets generally cluster around two core zones and multiple island-like areas, which reflect the differences in hotspots due to varying characteristics. Third, the spatial distribution of retail stores is highly correlated with the physical geographical features, population distribution, major road networks, and residential zones. The research findings indicate that Ningbo currently faces issues such as an excessive concentration of specific retail formats and a lack of format diversity. Optimization strategies were proposed to sustainably develop the retail industry of Ningbo. This study provides valuable information to formulate sustainable development strategies for the retail industry in Ningbo and other small and medium cities. Full article

We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) as an epidemiologic surveillance tool to elucidate the transmission dynamics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains along the beef production chain in South Africa. Isolates were obtained from a cattle farm, abattoirs and retail outlets. Isolates were analysed using WGS on a MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Of the 85 isolates, 39% (33) carried the stx gene and 61% (52) had lost the stx gene. The prevalence of stx subtypes was as follows; stx_1a 55% (18/33), stx_1b 52% (17/33), stx_2a 55% (18/33), stx_2b 27% (9/33), stx_2dB 30% (10/33) and stx_2d1A 15% (5/33). Thirty-five different serogenotypes were detected, of which 65% (56) were flagellar H-antigens and 34% (29) were both O-antigens and flagellar H-antigens. We identified 50 different sequence types (STs), and only nine of the isolates were assigned to three different clonal complexes. Core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic relatedness, and isolates clustered mainly according to their STs and serogenotypes regardless of stx subtypes. This study provides evidence of horizontal transmission and recirculation of STEC strains in Gauteng province and demonstrates that every stage of the beef production chain plays a significant role in STEC entry into the food chain. Full article

The increase in digital disruptions and changing preferences of different stakeholders has led to digital adoption in all hierarchies of business ecosystem. This study focused on the identification of the determinants of digitalization in unorganized small, localized retail outlets (Kirana stores) of an emerging economy. A theoretical model was constructed with certain modifications based on technology adoption models such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) to study the impact on business performance in general and as an effect of pandemic. A survey of 285 Unorganized Localized Retail Outlets Stores from different regions of India was used to validate this theoretical model, and structural equation modeling was then further employed. The findings underscore that cost, compatibility, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness significantly affect the intention to digitalize. By addressing the post-pandemic impact of digitalization within an unorganized sector in an emerging economy, this study adds to the scant literature that exists in this context. Full article

With a focus on seafood industries, this study provides a framework for economic contribution assessments, outlines Virginia’s seafood supply chain components, and evaluates the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of Virginia’s seafood industry in 2019. Utilizing an analysis-by-parts method in IMPLAN, primary expenditure data from watermen, aquaculture farmers, processors, and distributors were collected through surveys. The efficacy of obtaining primary data through stakeholder surveys heavily relies on the investigator’s interpersonal skills to establish trust and elucidate the study’s benefits, particularly its potential to inform policy decisions. In 2019, the Virginia seafood industry’s estimated total economic contributions amounted to USD 1.1 billion, supporting 7187 individuals. This impact encompasses 6050 direct jobs, 523 indirect jobs, and 614 induced jobs, primarily benefiting watermen and coastal communities. Furthermore, the industry’s influence extends beyond its immediate economic sphere, supporting diverse sectors such as polystyrene foam manufacturing, boat building, sporting and athletic goods, and commercial and industrial machinery. Wages and salaries disbursed throughout the seafood supply chain ripple to Virginia’s economy, benefiting nondepository credit intermediation, owner-occupied dwellings, and real estate sectors. Future research focusing on seafood sales in restaurants and retail outlets will complete the understanding of the seafood industry’s broader economic impact on the state. Full article

The study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis for the genomic characterization of 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes obtained from the beef production chain (cattle farms, abattoirs, and retail outlets) in Gauteng province, South Africa. The sequence types (STs), clonal complexes (CCs), and the lineages of the isolates were determined using in silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST). We used BLAST-based analyses to identify virulence and antimicrobial genes, plasmids, proviruses/prophages, and the CRISPR-Cas system. The study investigated any association of the detected genes to the origin in the beef production chain of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Overall, in 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes, there were seven STs, six CCs, forty-four putative virulence factors, two resistance genes, one plasmid with AMR genes, and three with conjugative genes, one CRISPR gene, and all 60 isolates were positive for proviruses/prophages. Among the seven STs detected, ST204 (46.7%) and ST2 (21.7%) were the most prominent, with ST frequency varying significantly (p < 0.001). The predominant CC detected were CC2 (21.7%) and CC204 (46.7%) in lineages I and II, respectively. Of the 44 virulence factors detected, 26 (across Listeria Pathogenicity Islands, LIPIs) were present in all the isolates. The difference in the detection frequency varied significantly (p < 0.001). The two AMR genes (fosX and vga(G)) detected were present in all 60 (100%) isolates of L. monocytogenes. The only plasmid, NF033156, was present in three (5%) isolates. A CRISPR-Cas system was detected in six (10%), and all the isolates carried proviruses/prophages. The source and sample type significantly affected the frequencies of STs and virulence factors in the isolates of L. monocytogenes. The presence of fosX and vga(G) genes in all L. monocytogenes isolates obtained from the three industries of the beef production chain can potentially cause therapeutic implications. Our study, which characterized L. monocytogenes recovered from the three levels in the beef production chain, is the first time genomics was performed on this type of data set in the country, and this provides insights into the health implications of Listeria. Full article

By producing high quality food with a low environmental impact, organic farming plays an essential role in developing sustainable food systems. Over time, consumer interest in organic food is systematically growing, which results in a generally positive attitude towards organic products. Many studies that are devoted to analysing organic food consumers’ behaviour aim to generalise the studied trends to the population of a given country or region. Given the varying rates of organic market development between countries, there is a need for more narrowly focused research, which could more profoundly facilitate local development of organic market. The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of Polish consumers about organic fruit and to identify the socioeconomic and sociodemographic determinants of the propensity to choose and purchase organic fruit. Respondents were recruited via a market research agency using a consumer access panel. To collect responses, a formal, structured questionnaire was developed and distributed using the CAWI method. The general acceptance of price increases for organic apples amounts to less than around 30% (89% of responses). The effect of income and package size tend to interact with regard to the purchase preference of apples (p < 0.001). The highest frequency of organic fruit purchases were indicated for physical stores, in particular supermarkets (5.35 times/month, 95%CI). A relationship between willingness to consume organic fruits and the self-described economic situation (p = 0.005), as well as true household income (p = 0.007), has been shown. A relationship between the frequency of organic fruit purchases and the number of household members (p = 0.006), as well as number of household members under the age of 18 (p = 0.011), has also been shown. Marketing techniques for organic products should emphasize family welfare and be directed at younger consumers, especially at retail outlets where customers are most likely to buy them, namely physical supermarkets, local grocery stores and discount stores. Full article