In 2016, Federal Law no. 273-FZ entered into force, introducing a number of significant amendments to the so-called Law on Trade (no. 381-FZ), adopted in 2009 and the central law regulating trade activities in the Russian Federation. This article assesses the impact of the 2016 amendments on the situation of suppliers to retail chains. Its relevance and novelty stem from the significant regulatory asymmetry currently observed between online platforms and traditional retail chains amid the rapid growth of marketplaces. The paper formulates hypotheses regarding the impact of Federal Law no. 273 on suppliers' commercial expenses, based on a detailed review of legislation, analytics, and empirical research. The findings demonstrate the lack of a sustainable long-term effect of the 2016 amendments, the presence of a short-term decline in commercial expenses for food suppliers in 2017, and a widening gap between large and small suppliers. While some of the restrictions are offset by changes in contract structures, they may hinder competition between chains and marketplaces. The conclusions emphasize that the current provisions of the Law on Trade do not guarantee the equalization of bargaining power and require revision, taking into account digitalization and the development of marketplaces. The theoretical significance of this work lies in clarifying the mechanisms by which industry regulation influences the distribution of commercial costs and bargaining power in vertical relations, while its practical significance lies in providing a basis for amending trade legislation and developing more symmetrical competition rules for offline retail chains and marketplaces.

This study investigates the determinants of halal food purchase intention among university students in urban China by operationalizing an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Standard predictive models are frequently inadequate in environments characterized by institutional fragmentation and supply chain vulnerabilities. To rectify this, the constructs of Perceived Halal Authenticity and Country of Origin (COO) were integrated into the baseline TPB framework. Utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional design, data was acquired from a simulated cohort of 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students across Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for measurement and structural model assessment. The analysis confirms that Attitude and Subjective Norms positively influence purchase intention, whereas Perceived Behavioral Control exerts no significant effect due to infrastructural saturation in Tier 1 and Tier 2 municipalities. Crucially, Perceived Halal Authenticity is established as a mandatory antecedent to Attitude, demonstrating that consumers actively verify supply chain integrity prior to positive attitude formulation. Furthermore, COO significantly moderates the relationship between Attitude and Purchase Intention. Imported halal certifications function as an authenticity premium, mathematically accelerating the conversion of attitude into definitive purchasing action. These findings provide empirical justification for recalibrating standard TPB models in high-risk, non-Muslim majority markets and supply strategic parameters for domestic and international halal food suppliers operating within the Chinese sector.

The article examines the innovative transformation of organizational and economic mechanisms for the development of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine as a strategic modernization process for integration into the European market. The study focuses on systemic reform, including the modernization of land relations, the introduction of precision farming technologies, the transition to sustainable production methods, and the formation of a transparent institutional framework in the context of post-war recovery and EU acquis requirements. The process aims to shift the paradigm from raw material exports to high value-added production, with an emphasis on processing, diversification, and harmonization with Green Deal standards. The key vectors of modernisation are land reform with improved access to finance and income guarantees, the restoration of hydraulic reclamation to overcome irrigation deficits, and digital transformation through GPS systems, IoT sensors, and AI analytics, which reduce resource costs by 30% and increase efficiency by 50%. Economic transformation is being implemented through a “3i” approach in livestock farming, stimulating processing, creating special economic zones, and attracting foreign investment. Production diversification meets EU requirements for pesticide reduction, animal welfare, and biodiversity, opening access to premium markets and CAP subsidies. Socio-economic sustainability is reinforced by training programs for vulnerable groups, FAO initiatives to restore frontline areas, and innovative solutions (agrivoltaics, controlled cultivation). Strategic results are shaped through integrated plans for 2025–2030 with investments of over $2 billion, ensuring Ukraine's long-term competitiveness and positioning as a global food supplier.

Abstract Understanding how information and/or information systems can help reduce the spread of foodborne illness, especially among vulnerable populations, is of first‐order policy relevance. In 2008, the South Korean government introduced an early warning system for foodborne illness outbreaks in all schools. This action was in response to a 2006 outbreak that sickened over 3600 students in 46 schools in the greater Seoul area. The EWS mandates schools track food items and suppliers such that schools can be alerted when an outbreak occurs. This study evaluates the effects of this warning system using administrative panel data in South Korea for 10 school years (2002–2011). We find the areas that had a higher pre‐policy prevalence of foodborne illness had the largest decrease in foodborne illness‐related costs after the implementation of the Early Warning System. In general, outbreaks of foodborne illness (of any type) fell by about 18.5% and the overall number of cases fell by 0.4%. When we compare changes in illnesses in schools versus other food sources (e.g., homes or restaurants) we find less evidence that the EWS reduced illness. Back‐of‐the‐envelope calculations indicate that the EWS reduced the annual cost of foodborne illness by at least $0.4 million per year, upwards of $2.9 million.

Russia’s international policy in the field of import substitution in the agricultural sector represents a comprehensive transition from protecting the domestic market to active foreign economic promotion. The purpose of this policy is not just to compensate for the lost Western markets, but to use the achieved food independence as a basis for turning Russia into one of the world’s leading food suppliers, with a special focus on the countries of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. This strategy combines active government support with a focus on market mechanisms and competition. The purpose of the article is to analyze the strategies and instruments of the international policy of the Russian Federation aimed at achieving food security and strengthening global positions through import substitution in the agro-industrial complex. Objectives: to analyze the theoretical foundations and evolution of import substitution policy; to assess the current state and foreign economic positions of the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation; to study the tools and mechanisms of public policy; to identify problems and develop recommendations. Methodology. To prepare the article, the author used a set of general scientific and private methods: abstraction, induction and deduction, classification, comparison, scientific proof, dialectical, logical, retrospective and comparative analysis, as well as the economic and statistical method, tabular and graphical interpretation of data, expert assessments, etc. Results: Russia’s export basket consists mainly of raw materials and low-value-added goods, which leads to a low unit cost. Deep processing and brand development are necessary for revenue growth. Conclusions/significance the launch of the national project «Technological provision of food security», aimed at increasing production and exports, is planned for 2025. The import substitution policy is also implemented at the interstate level, which is facilitated by the integration and localization of production in the CIS countries. The agricultural sector has shown higher resistance to sanctions compared to other sectors, but the risks of expanding restrictions on critical imports remain.

In food industries, supplier evaluation and selection are strategic activities that influence product freshness, operational continuity, and supply chain sustainability. However, this process is often hindered by uncertainty and ambiguity in expert judgments. In response to these challenges, the present study proposes an integrated decision-making method that combines Circular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set (CIFS), the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA), and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). CIFS capture uncertainty in expert opinions, SWARA determines systematic criteria weights, and TOPSIS—enhanced with the Garg et al. distance measure—ranks suppliers based on aggregated evaluations. The evaluation involves seven key criteria: flexibility, capacity, quality, service, reputation, price, and lead time, assessed across five potential suppliers. Applied to Toko Pia Cap Mangkok, a traditional snack producer in Malang, Indonesia, the method identifies lead time, capacity, and reputation as the most critical criteria. Among the alternatives, Supplier $A_1$ consistently ranks first across optimistic, pessimistic, and combined scenarios, confirming its robustness and reliability, followed by Supplier $A_2$, while others perform less competitively. This study advances fuzzy-based multi-criteria decision-making by integrating CIFS–SWARA–TOPSIS, ensuring reliable supplier selection under uncertainty and offering a replicable framework for decision-makers in the food industry.

Subject. This article discusses the issues of strengthening Russia's economic security, ensuring food availability, and providing State support for agriculture. Objectives. The article aims to assess measures to support Russia's agro-industrial complex under challenging political conditions. Methods. For the study, I used content and statistical analyses. Results. The article finds that the measures adopted by the Russian leadership to develop the agro-industrial complex helped increase agricultural production volumes significantly. Through gaining a high level of self-sufficiency for key food products, Russia has become one of the main food exporters. Conclusions. A comprehensive set of measures is needed to strengthen Russia's position as a key food supplier to the global market.

The food supply chain in South Africa faces significant challenges related to transparency, traceability, and consumer trust, exacerbated by growing concerns about food safety, quality, and sustainability. As these concerns grow, there is an increasing need for innovative solutions to address these issues. Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising tool that can enhance the transparency and accountability of the food supply chain. This study sought to explore how blockchain technology might revolutionize the development of sustainable food supply chain infrastructure in South Africa. The study found that blockchain technology used in the food supply chain creates an immutable and decentralized ledger of transactions that has the capacity to provide real-time, end-to-end visibility of food products from farm to table. This increased transparency can help mitigate risks associated with food fraud, contamination, and inefficiencies in the supply chain. The implementation of blockchain can improve supply chain efficiency and foster trust among stakeholders, including farmers and food suppliers. This technology used and/or applied in South Africa can reshape the agricultural sector by improving production and distribution processes. Its integration in the food supply chain infrastructure can equally improve data management and increase transparency between farmers and food suppliers. There is a need for policymakers and scholars in the fields of service delivery and food security to conduct more research in blockchain technology and its roles in creating a more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy food supply chain infrastructure that addresses food supply problems in South Africa. The paper adopted a qualitative methodology to collect data, and document and content analysis techniques were used to interpret collected data. This study lays the groundwork for further investigation into blockchain’s potential to shape the future of food supply networks.

In hospital settings, adequate nutrition contributes not only to patients' physical recovery but also to their psychological well-being; therefore, it should be regarded as an essential component of patient care (1). Inadequate nutrition or insufficient food intake during hospitalization leads to multiple adverse outcomes-most notably malnutrition (2). Malnutrition increases the risk of complications such as delayed wound healing, prolonged and costly hospital stays, readmissions, and, in severe cases, death (3). Several studies have confirmed the high prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized patients. For example, Agarwal et al. analyzed 3,122 patients across 56 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand and found that 32% were malnourished and 23% consumed ≤25% of the food provided.Similarly, Doğanay et al., in a study of 191,028 patients in Türkiye, reported an overall malnutritionrisk prevalence of 11.6% and 20.4% among patients over 65 years (4,5). In Ecuador, a study involving 5,355 hospitalized patients across 36 public hospitals in 22 provinces found that 37.1% were affected by malnutrition (6). These data underscore the importance of adequate nutrition for hospitalized patients; however, Ecuador is currently facing food shortages in public hospitals.During the 1980s and 1990s, health-sector reforms were implemented throughout Latin America, leading to a significant reduction in public health expenditure (7). Although the neoliberal health-sector reform was not formally adopted in Ecuador, several of its core elements were nonetheless present, including drastic cuts to public budgets, the establishment of a universal health insurance scheme with limited coverage for specific population groups, and the outsourcing of services to private providers (7). In 2000, public health expenditure accounted for only 1.5% of GDP. Following the recognition of the right to health in the 2008 Constitution, public spending increased progressively: it reached 1.7% in 2009, exceeded 5% of GDP between 2014 and 2016, and peaked at 5.28% in 2021. Nevertheless, by 2022, public health expenditure had declined again to 4.9% of GDP (8).In recent years, Ecuador's public healthcare system has faced profound challenges that have culminated in a health crisis. Food shortages have been reported in public hospitals across the country, largely attributable to budget cuts implemented between 2023 and 2025. During this period, the Ministry of Health's budget decreased from USD 3.2 billion to USD 2.7 billion, while allocations for food, security, and cleaning services in public hospitals were reduced from USD 115.8 million to USD 37.2 million-a 67.8% decrease, equivalent to USD 78.6 million (9,10). In addition to the budget reduction, allocated funds often arrive late or only in small installments (11). As a result, public hospitals have accumulated unpaid debts to food supplier (12), some reportedly amounting to approximately USD 60,000 (11).Hospitals in Quito, Guayaquil, Ambato, Santo Domingo, and Orellana have reported severe difficulties in providing meals to patients. On several occasions, patients have not received complete meals and have been forced to rely on donations (13)(14)(15). Some large hospitals, including those with over 400 beds, have turned to food banks to meet their needs. In Quito, for instance, the local food bank has donated more than 1,700 kilograms of chicken, vegetables, and other supplies since June 2025 (10,16).The crisis also affects healthcare workers, many of whom depend on hospital-provided meals during on-call shifts. Doctors, nurses, and administrative staff have at times brought food themselves to share with patients. Despite these circumstances, hospitals identified by patients and their families as unable to provide adequate nutrition continue to insist that they serve five meals a day and, in some cases, restrict families from bringing food (10,13).The shortage of food further weakens Ecuador's already fragile public healthcare system, which also faces persistent shortages of medicines and medical supplies. This is compounded by the government's multimillion-dollar debts to external providers of essential services such as laboratory testing, imaging, and dialysis, many of whom have suspended operations (17)(18)(19).The ongoing food shortages in Ecuador's hospitals constitute a clear violation of patients' right to health. Beyond undermining human dignity, this crisis exacerbates disease progression, delays recovery, and increases financial strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. Despite the gravity of the situation, the response from the relevant authorities has been markedly insufficient. If

Purpose Widespread food waste, lack of supply chain coordination, the need for robust traceability systems and limited empirical research on blockchain’s real-world benefits all pose significant hurdles for the global food industry to overcome. This research delves into the application of blockchain technology within a food supply chain to tackle the widespread issue of food wastage and enhance overall operational efficiency. Moreover, the paper explores the potential advantages, managerial implications and constraints associated with blockchain-enabled traceability systems in the food industry. Design/methodology/approach By utilizing a discrete event simulation model, the study investigates how blockchain-based information-sharing impacts food waste reduction, resource utilization and costs within a complex five-tier supply chain network. Findings The findings not only aid in optimizing decision-making processes but also in enhancing the information-sharing infrastructure, ultimately benefiting both consumers and food suppliers. Originality/value The simulation-based analysis provides practical insights for food industry managers and government officials seeking to improve their information-sharing systems, leading to enhanced food quality, customer satisfaction and brand image. In essence, this research contributes to optimizing decision-making in the food industry sector, benefiting both customers and providers.

This study examines the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program in Medan Timur District, focusing on compliance with the Halal Product Assurance (JPH) as mandated by Law Number 33 of 2014. Employing a qualitative approach through interviews, observations, and document analysis, the research reveals a gap between regulatory provisions and on-the-ground practices. While the MBG program aims to improve human resource quality, reduce malnutrition and stunting, and stimulate regional economic growth, its implementation still faces challenges, including the absence of halal labels and expiration dates on some products, incomplete halal certification of food suppliers, limited infrastructure, shortage of halal auditors, weak inter-agency coordination, and budget constraints. These conditions indicate that the protection of Muslim consumers’ rights to halal and thayyib food has not been fully ensured. The study recommends strengthening technical regulations, accelerating halal certification, enhancing monitoring systems, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure the program’s success in line with legal mandates and Islamic principles.

This study presents an innovative hierarchical model for implementing sustainable green management strategies in Thailand’s food industry SMEs. The research employs a novel methodological approach combining Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research (EDFR) with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), uniquely integrating participatory stakeholder engagement with rigorous quantitative prioritization. This sequential mixed-methods design produces contextually rich yet quantitatively robust findings, addressing limitations of conventional sustainability research that treats success factors independently. Data were collected from 17 key informants representing government, academia, industry, and consumers across three phases. The findings reveal six interconnected strategic components: Sustainable Leadership (38.6%), Green Networks (17.5%), Sustainable Supply Chain Management (16.2%), Corporate Social Responsibility (13.2%), Government Support (7.6%), and Innovation and Digital Technology (6.8%). Critically, these components function as an interconnected system with reinforcing relationships rather than independent factors, explaining why isolated sustainability initiatives often fail. The model advances theoretical understanding by demonstrating leadership and cultural factors’ primacy over technical approaches, while providing actionable implementation guidance. Organizations should follow a phased transformation emphasizing leadership commitment before technical investments. For policymakers, findings recommend reorienting support mechanisms toward: 1) sustainability leadership training programs for SME executives, 2) collaborative network facilitation among food SMEs and suppliers, and 3) integrated support packages addressing cultural transformation alongside technical assistance. This approach directly supports Thailand 4.0 objectives to ensure national economic transformation reaches all enterprise scales.

Balanced approaches to controlling antibiotic resistance in aquaculture settings are paramount to protecting ecosystems, health, and food supply. Antibiotic usage, often prevalent and uncontrolled, presents a significant risk to the Reserve Banks of Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (BARGS) in aquaculture. These resistant strains threaten global health because they can be disseminated via water bodies, aquaculture species, and human activities. The focus of this paper is to investigate comprehensive approaches to reducing the resistant strains, including the betterment of regulatory policies, employing alternative methods such as probiotics or vaccines, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) that incorporate biosecurity measures, water quality enhancement, and judicious use of antibiotics spent in aquaculture. Policy frameworks are also strengthened with the importance of persistent monitoring and surveillance systems tracking resistance trends. Farmers, along with scientists, regulators, and consumers, need to encourage collaboration in aquaculture systems (farm-level) to foster sustainability and responsibility integrated into fisheries science, which in return will aid in establishing a control framework on the growing concerns surrounding the usage of antibiotics in aquaculture while preserving its ecosystem. This enables a move towards more ecologically-friendly strategies in aquaculture alongside strengthening its prospects as the primary food supplier in the future shown in Figure 1.

PurposeThe lack of transparent suppliers on the part of the buyer has caused significant reputational and economic losses for focal firms. Therefore, it is increasingly crucial to gain supplier support and response to enhance supply chain transparency in buyer-supplier relationships. However, the underlying impact mechanism of buyer-driven knowledge transfer activities on supplier transparency remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to utilize social exchange theory to reveal the impact mechanism of buyer-driven knowledge transfer activities on supplier transparency.Design/methodology/approachBased on structural equation modelling and regression analysis, data we collected from 408 food suppliers using a survey method to test the mediation model. FindingsThe findings of the study indicate that buyer-driven knowledge transfer activities not only have a direct positive impact on supplier transparency but also indirectly enhance it through supplier-perceived relationship transparency and the expected accessibility of buyer resources.Originality/valueThis study reveals the underlying impact mechanism of buyer-driven knowledge transfer activities on supplier transparency. It provides a new perspective from the supplier’s point of view to explore the impact mechanism of buyer behavior on supplier transparency. This not only contributes to a better understanding of the critical success path to enhance supplier transparency but also provides theoretical guidance for supply chain managers to enhance supply chain transparency and reduce the ripple effects of risks.

Purpose Entomophagy (eating insects as food) is an important step in the transition toward alternative sources of protein, but is not culturally accepted in Western countries. This study aims to identify which communication strategies on the benefits of entomophagy resonate most with consumers based on their diet. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative study was carried out on 720 French adults, who were divided into three groups depending on their diet (omnivore, flexitarian or vegetarian) and then exposed to a different message on the benefits of entomophagy (environment, health and animal welfare). Findings Flexitarians show the highest level of acceptance toward entomophagy. Communication content has no main effect, but the interaction with diet has a main effect, meaning that the communication content needs to be adapted depending on the consumers’ diet. The message explaining the environmental benefits of entomophagy seems to be more effective for flexitarians, while the message on health benefits seems to be more effective for vegetarians and omnivores. Practical implications The results can help promoters of insect-based food products (public organizations and insect food suppliers) to guide their marketing campaigns to promote entomophagy in Western food cultures. Originality/value This study contributes to emerging research on alternative food consumption by examining the type of information that needs to be communicated to consumers – depending on their current diet – to promote entomophagy. This study highlights Construal Level Theory as essential in understanding the cognitive processes involved in consumers’ acceptance of entomophagy.

This paper analyzes the food supplier’s equilibrium carbon abatement investment decisions, supply chain members’ profits, consumer surplus, and carbon emissions under the scenario with and without the government subsidy. Our results reveal that the marginal carbon abatement cost is a key determinant of the suppliers’ equilibrium decisions and supply chain performance. The influence of this factor varies with the supply chain network size. The deterioration of food quality will reduce each supplier’s carbon abatement investment and will incur negative effects on the whole supply chain network’s performance. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the government subsidy in improving economic and social performance. The government subsidy can improve the carbon abatement investment level and supply chain members’ profits while the effectiveness may be reduced in a larger network size. Implementing the government subsidy can also benefit the consumer surplus while increasing the whole supply chain network’s total carbon emissions under certain conditions. Furthermore, the government subsidy cannot mitigate the adverse effects of multiple suppliers’ competition in the context of larger network size. Our results reveal that alleviating suppliers’ competition is better than only reducing carbon abatement costs or educating consumers about environmental awareness.

The hospitality industry in Indonesia, as a crucial component of the tourism sector, faces significant challenges in efficiently managing food supplies. This study aims to design an application that connects hotels with food suppliers, addressing the key issues of supply and resource management. The research methodology employed is qualitative descriptive, which includes literature review and interviews with various stakeholders in the hospitality industry. Findings indicate that the COOK LINK application has great potential to enhance hotel operational efficiency with standout features such as online payments, real-time stock tracking, and more effective customer complaint management. The analysis further demonstrates that by integrating technology into the management of food supplies, hotels can reduce the risk of shortages and ensure optimal quality of raw materials. The implications of this research are vital for developing differentiation strategies within the hospitality industry and creating opportunities to leverage technology to meet market competition. With the implementation of this application, it is anticipated that customer satisfaction will improve and lead to sustainable growth within the hospitality sector, ultimately supporting the advancement of the tourism industry in Indonesia.

Men and women are assigned roles and obligations that they must fulfill to sustain the welfare of their households. These are adhered to despite the challenges encountered by women, essential food producers within households, to guarantee sustainable food security. This review described the challenges faced by female subsistence crop farmers in securing household food security. The primary research technique adopted is a literature analysis of subsistence production, climate change, its effects, mitigation strategies, and adaptation methods. The review findings indicate that women play a crucial role as subsistence producers of rain-fed crops, notwithstanding the numerous constraints encountered in production systems. The primary challenges include erratic rainfall and sub-optimal crop yield. These obstacles hinder women's ability to fulfill their household food supplier roles. These challenges could be addressed to empower women farmers, augment crop productivity, alleviate rural poverty, enhance food security and nutrition, and encourage women's involvement in food security and climate change mitigation and adaptation. These will facilitate the attainment of several Sustainable Development Goals, namely SDG1 (End Poverty), SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG5 (Gender Equality), and SDG13 (Combat Climate Change).

Sustainable strategic management (SSM) has emerged as a pivotal concern for global companies, as enterprises strive to reconcile economic advancement with environmental conservation and social accountability. This is predominantly appropriate in the Zimbabwean food industry (FI) owing to its substantial influence on the national economy and its potential effects on food security along with environmental sustainability. The stakeholder framework, encompassing SSM practices, SSM drivers and Dynamic Capabilities, is vital for the effective execution of justifiable plans. The Zimbabwean food sector encounters food scarcity which is caused by distinct difficulties, such as lack of strategic management, economic volatility, climate change, and resource depletion, which require a comprehensive stakeholder structure to guarantee sustainability. This study seeks to provide a stakeholder framework for SSM in the Zimbabwean food sector, offering insights on enhancing the alignment of strategic management with sustainability objectives. This linkage is necessary for the business's long-standing sustainability and its role in national development goals and global sustainability objectives. This project enhances the knowledge base in Zimbabwe by identifying potential areas for revitalizing food production and sustainability. The study will employ equally qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The quantitative exploration approach utilized stratified random sampling, whereas the qualitative research strategy will employ purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was employed to detect and interpret patterns in qualitative data analysis. The framework developed in this study targets at enhancing policy formulation and development within the food industry in the long run.

Purpose The aim of this study is to examine the role of gastronomy as a form of special interest tourism in cities. This includes analysing the relative importance of gastronomy compared to other activities and identifying the gastronomic preferences of tourists. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on questionnaire data collected from 537 tourists in Budapest, Hungary, over a period of four weeks in 2022. Findings The findings reveal that gastronomy-related experiences are becoming even more interesting for tourists than cultural attractions. They show a preference for traditional or typical foods from the city or country that they are visiting but tend to prefer casual dining experiences and street food. Fast food is ranked as highly as fine dining. Satisfaction levels are generally high, but it is difficult to compare the quality of food-related experiences with other cities without further research. Tourists show an above-average willingness to pay more for food made from local ingredients, which they see as a unique experience. Originality/value The data provide new insights into the motivations, activities and preferences of urban tourists in relation to gastronomy. The research can help city agencies to promote traditional gastronomy further and to encourage consumption in restaurants that use local ingredients. Some attention needs to be paid to affordability, but the social implications could be very positive for food and drink producers and suppliers, as well as restaurateurs.