Work Place Influence on Purchase Behavior of Pet Food Products in the Pandemic Period

Abstract

"The pet food industry faced changes recently determining important market growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic the pets’ popularity increased as many people wanted to adopt or buy a pet during this period. Also, in respect with the workplace, the COVID-19 pandemic divided the pets’ owners in those who worked from home or hybrid and those who worked from the workplace. The main goals of the research are to analyze the factors that pet owners consider when they are purchasing pet food products, and the budget allocated for pet food products according to how pets’ owners worked in this period. Based on descriptive research, the study revealed that those who worked from home/ hybrid during the pandemic period put more emphasis on product quality and brand awareness and less on price. Those who have worked at workplace more emphasis on price and less on the quality of pet food. Keywords: pet food, work, purchasing behavior, COVID-19 pandemic, Romania JEL classification: M31, L67, D91"