About this Research Topic
The landscape of food retail is undergoing a profound transformation worldwide, marked by the emergence of novel environments shaped by technological innovations, shifting consumer preferences, evolving societal trends, and the entrenchment of new household behaviors that arose during Covid-19 lockdowns. This dynamic shift encompasses the rise of e-commerce and online grocery shopping, the increasing prevalence of delivery services (e.g., Uber Eats, Wolt, Doordash) and meal kits, and the broader integration of technology in the shopping experience. The growing integration of social media and online shopping has also opened new opportunities for direct-to-consumer sales of food and beverages that leverages increasingly targeted marketing opportunities. For example, the rise of the Chinese live-streaming clips that shows product features (Zhibo and Daihuo) has created a new generation of marketing influencers who inspire vast amounts of sales that are often impulse purchases. At the same time, traditional grocery stores have lost ground in some markets not just to online platforms, but also to other types of bricks-and-mortars retailers. For example, in the United States, the share of food-at-home expenditures in grocery stores has shrunk over the past decade, whereas club stores, dollar stores, and supercenters have taken larger shares of the food dollar (Feng et al, 2023).
For the most part, policies designed to promote public health, inform the public about the nutritional quality and safety attributes of their food and beverages, and ensure societal well-being have not kept up with these rapid changes in how many consumers are now learning about, and acquiring, food and beverages. Food labeling and safety disclosures are unevenly applied in online retail environments; regulations that require information provision to appear on food packaging do not ensure that these details will be accessible to consumers viewing food items online; menus in food delivery apps often do not conform to requirements imposed on traditional restaurants; and safety regulations designed for traditional retailers do not often translate well into these evolving food environments. We encourage researchers to delve into these themes and contribute to the understanding of the evolving dynamics in food retail, helping to shape policies that address the challenges and opportunities presented by these novel environments.
This call invites researchers to contribute original research, case reports, and reviews that explore the multifaceted aspects of consumer behavior and policy needs within these novel food retail environments worldwide. Submissions may cover, but are not limited to, the intersection of consumer behavior and policy needs across the following sub-themes:
• The effectiveness of new policies targeting the growing food delivery sector
• Examining the practice of food labeling and disclosure of mandatory information in novel food environments
•The implications of market consolidation on food choice and dietary quality
• Analyzing the role of social media platforms in shaping consumer perceptions,
preferences, and behaviors in the food retail sector
• Examining the influence and effectiveness of social media food influencers in driving consumer choices and trends, and the accuracy of claims made by these influencers
• Investigating the impact of food delivery services, both for groceries and prepared meals, on consumer habits, preferences, and the broader food industry
• Exploring the accessibility and consequences of ultra-processed foods in novel food retail environments
• The implications of increasing reliance on supercenters and dollar stores for food access and dietary quality.
• The equity implications of changing food environments, and the implications for existing policies that seek to enhance food and nutritional security for disadvantaged households and groups
• Cross-country comparisons of consumer trends, regulatory approaches, and nutritional outcomes
For the most part, policies designed to promote public health, inform the public about the nutritional quality and safety attributes of their food and beverages, and ensure societal well-being have not kept up with these rapid changes in how many consumers are now learning about, and acquiring, food and beverages. Food labeling and safety disclosures are unevenly applied in online retail environments; regulations that require information provision to appear on food packaging do not ensure that these details will be accessible to consumers viewing food items online; menus in food delivery apps often do not conform to requirements imposed on traditional restaurants; and safety regulations designed for traditional retailers do not often translate well into these evolving food environments. We encourage researchers to delve into these themes and contribute to the understanding of the evolving dynamics in food retail, helping to shape policies that address the challenges and opportunities presented by these novel environments.
This call invites researchers to contribute original research, case reports, and reviews that explore the multifaceted aspects of consumer behavior and policy needs within these novel food retail environments worldwide. Submissions may cover, but are not limited to, the intersection of consumer behavior and policy needs across the following sub-themes:
• The effectiveness of new policies targeting the growing food delivery sector
• Examining the practice of food labeling and disclosure of mandatory information in novel food environments
•The implications of market consolidation on food choice and dietary quality
• Analyzing the role of social media platforms in shaping consumer perceptions,
preferences, and behaviors in the food retail sector
• Examining the influence and effectiveness of social media food influencers in driving consumer choices and trends, and the accuracy of claims made by these influencers
• Investigating the impact of food delivery services, both for groceries and prepared meals, on consumer habits, preferences, and the broader food industry
• Exploring the accessibility and consequences of ultra-processed foods in novel food retail environments
• The implications of increasing reliance on supercenters and dollar stores for food access and dietary quality.
• The equity implications of changing food environments, and the implications for existing policies that seek to enhance food and nutritional security for disadvantaged households and groups
• Cross-country comparisons of consumer trends, regulatory approaches, and nutritional outcomes
Keywords: food retail, food policy, Consumer perceptions, Consumer trends, Consumer behaviour, Food Labeling
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
