Fresh Snack Food Channel Evaluation Model for Integrating Customers’ Perception of Transaction Costs in Taiwan

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to explore how food dealers develop methods that facilitate transaction efficiency and how they select the optimal food channels. This study establishes a model according to the impact of transaction cost factors on consumers' decision-making regarding purchase of fresh snack foods. Using fresh snack foods in Taiwan as an example, this study employed a fuzzy analytic network process to solve decision-making problems with multiple criteria by comparing the interaction between each transaction cost factor to obtain the factor weightings as well as the weightings of the transaction costs at each decision stage. This study found that food safety assurance and providing sufficient nutrition information were the most essential topics; thus, the optimal choice for snack food producers is to develop retail outlets. This study construction process proposed is innovative and operational, and the results may provide a reference for snack food dealers or microfood enterprises to assist them in developing their food channels.

From agricultural supply chains to food system transformation : Tracing the impact of private sector activities on food systems in developing countries

“…Neighbourhood characteristics and retail variability are important variables. In addition, consumer preferences for product differentiation, less price volatility, low transaction costs and low risk determine preferences for particular food retail outlets (Chen, 2017;Habib et al, 2020). Duran et al (2013)…”

“…• Retail activities can steer food systems performance by influencing consumer's choice and preferences. Much attention is usually given to food safety requirements (Wertheim-Heck et al, 2014), nutrition information (Chen, 2017) or quality characteristics (Odunitan-Wayas et al, 2020), but wider aspects of product integrity and transparent handling become increasingly important. A study looking at formal sourcing contracts by supermarkets in Nicaragua finds that -if transportation is arranged by the retailer instead of the farmer -a price stabilisation effect for both farmers and consumers is observed (Michelson et al, 2012).…”

The Effect of Trust in Food Safety, Perception, Product Features and Consumers’ Characteristics on Consumers’ Purchase Decision for Safe Food: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The human decision to choose food is a complex function (Chen, 2017). According to Mondelaers et al (2009), consumers' food choices result from quality expectations and experiences, including search criteria such as colour, price, and quality.…”