Retail Marketplace Research Articles

Mycotoxins in infant cereal foods from the Canadian retail market

Three hundred and sixty-three samples of cereal-based infant foods were collected from the Canadian retail marketplace over 3 years. The samples included oat-, barley-, soy-, and rice-based infant cereals, mixed-grain infant cereals, teething biscuits, creamed corn, and soy-based formulas. Samples were analysed for targeted mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, HT-2 toxin, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisins B1 and B2, and five ergot alkaloids). Soy-based cereals (which usually contain corn) exhibited the highest incidences of deoxynivalenol (100%), zearalenone (46%) and fumonisins (75%). Overall, deoxynivalenol was the most frequently detected mycotoxin — it was detected in 63% of samples analysed. Survey results demonstrated the regular occurrence of multiple mycotoxins in cereal-based infant foods.

The role of voluntary food co-operatives in the retail marketplace: some theoretical considerations

Voluntary food co-operatives (VFCs) remain a relatively under researched area of academic enquiry. However they represent an important form of retail provision for particular groups in the community. This paper puts forward a theoretical framework that attempts to conceptualize the role and purpose of VFCs. Drawing upon Resource-Advantage (RA) theory it maintains that VFCs are the outcome of competitive market processes. Their importance lies in the provision of goods and services to a neglected segment of the population. The paper argues that VFCs are neither a form of unfair competition, nor do they prevent the development of new forms of retailing. Rather VFCs represent a proactive response to the exclusion of particular groups from the marketplace.

Retail cooperatives: group size, group identification, communication frequency and relationship effectiveness

Observes that the group size of some US retail hardware cooperatives increased during the 1990s, as cooperative managements strove to increase the quantity and quality of group members. For example, a 1997 merger doubled the membership of one group. Large size was deemed necessary to achieve the economies of scope and scale needed to compete in an intense retail marketplace. Group research generally shows that large size has a negative impact on group dynamics. The current study examines size of retail hardware cooperative groups in relation to group identification, communication frequency, and relationship effectiveness. Findings show that size does not influence the relationships between the variables in the study. Also, a member’s level of group identification is a primary driver of perceptions of relationship effectiveness. The higher the identification with the group, the more effective the relationship is perceived to be by the member.

Retailing organic foods

During the past five years consumer demand for organic food has risen dramatically in the wake of a series of high profile scares about food safety. This paper provides a case study of the retailing of organic foods. The case study includes an outline of the characteristics and development of the organic food market, an examination of the different players within the retail market place and a discussion of pricing, supply and marketing issues.

The failed promise of a festival marketplace: South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan

This article examines the history of urban renewal planning for the South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan, the largest and most subsidized festival retail marketplace in the United States. Festival marketplaces were a leading downtown revitalization strategy in American cities during the 1970s and 1980s. The Seaport marketplace was planned and developed over a 20-year period as a joint venture between the non-profit South Street Seaport Museum, the city and state of New York, and the Rouse Company. The Seaport became a popular Manhattan destination, relying upon an expanding banking and financial sector for political support and as a source of demand for retail shops, restaurants and offices. But its marginal profitability eroded with the Wall Street downturn of the late 1980s, and the Museum withdrew from its joint venture with Rouse, unable to realize financial returns to support its operations. This case study illustrates the tension between historic preservation and real estate development, the changing politics of city planning and urban renewal in New York and the economic problems of the festival marketplace.

A relationship‐building model for the Web retail marketplace

Electronic commerce has existed in the business‐to‐business marketplace since the 1970s, in forms such as electronic data interchange (EDI) and electronic funds transfer (EFT). With the emergence of the Internet, and the World Wide Web in particular, electronic commerce entered a new era which opened the door for an electronic business‐to‐consumer marketplace. Although the retail side of electronic commerce is still in its infancy, the Web medium offers great potential for building the customer‐base, promoting sales, and improving after‐sales service. Examines the concept of relationship marketing, which has caused a paradigm shift in business‐to‐business marketing during recent years. Extends the concepts of network marketing to the Web retail marketplace, and develops a market process model for Web retailing that outlines the stages of the relationship building process.

The State of the Industry

The new millennium has arrived, bringing with it tougher competitive conditions than most insurance companies would have thought possible a few decades ago. While the state of the industry today is the direct result of the transformation of the overall financial services industry over the past 20 years, its metamorphosis is still in progress. Staggering changes have taken place in the financial services environment during this period. What do these changes mean for insurers, and what will the industry look like 20 years down the road? A brave new world lies before us—a world dominated by the advent of a more financially astute and demanding customer and the power of the Internet. The retail marketplace is being transformed as providers scramble to meet the needs of sophisticated, technology-smart consumers. To reach these consumers, insurance companies must rethink the way they do business, embracing multiple distribution channels and seeking out bold new alliances. The stakes are higher than ever, and companies that remain mired in the past will not be around for long.

The breaking of the fourth wave: recent out-of-town retail developments in Britain

In the early 1990s there was considerable speculation about the potential impact which new retail formats may have upon UK retailing. These "fourth wave" out-of-town developments, primarily of US origin, were viewed as a major threat to town centres. This paper revisits these estimates for the new retail formats and assesses the relative success or failure of the formats in light of research undertaken with senior executives of companies involved in the development process. The research shows that the high expectations pertaining to the fourth wave of out-of-town development have not materialized and the predictions of the early 1990s were over-optimistic. The tightening of planning policy guidelines has been partially responsible for the downgrading of initial estimates, especially for factory outlet centres, where several key developers have accelerated their search for sites in other parts of Europe because of the lack of development opportunities in the UK. Warehouse clubs, on the other hand, have not only experienced planning difficulties but have yet to gain consumer acceptability in a highly competitive retail marketplace.

Hispanic and native American adolescents: An exploratory study of their approach to shopping

This study investigates the role of ethnicity as a determinant of adolescent consumers' approach to the retail marketplace and the factors ultimately related to consumer socialisation. A total of 1,846 respondents were classified into three groups based on their ethnicity: Hispanic, Native American and White. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance were utilized to determine whether the three ethnic adolescent groups differed with respect to shopping orientation and the socialisation process. The covariance procedures allowed for an examination of ethnic differences apart from social class differences. The study's most notable findings revealed a distinctive shopping orientation on the part of each group. Hispanics exhibited a Social/Hedonistic orientation. Native Americans an Overpowered orientation, and Whites a Utilitarian orientation. The findings have specific implications for retailing and public policy, particularly with regard to Native American and Hispanic adolescents who heretofore have received scant attention in the retailing and marketing literature.

Bacteriology and Retail Case Life of Pork After Storage in Carbon Dioxide

The effects of prolonged, anoxic storage, under CO2 at −1.5°C, upon the bacteriology and case life of pork on its subsequent transfer to the aerobic conditions of simulated retail display at 8°C was examined. Brochothrix thermosphacta, lactic acid bacteria, enterics, and pseudomonads were enumerated. Panel scores for odor and appearance acceptability were used to quantify retail case life. Lactic acid bacteria were the only bacteria found during loin storage in CO2 for up to 24 weeks. Those organisms reached maximum number of 107 CFU/cm2 within 9 weeks. The number of lactic acid bacteria initially found on the freshly cut surfaces of loin chops increased linearly during the first 9 weeks of loin storage in CO2. Thereafter, they continued to grow on the chops and dominated the spoilage flora during retail display. The pseudomonads grew rapidly and emerged as the next most numerous organism, while B. thermosphacta and enterics showed only limited aerobic growth. The acceptability of pork chop appearance and odor was adversely affected by loin storage time. Each 6-week interval of loin storage produced a 1 d reduction in case life. Should controlled atmospheres be a practicable means of meat distribution to the retail marketplace, efforts will be necessary to assure a maximum case life after their removal from preservative packagings.

Clothing Selection and the Visually Impaired Consumer

A study to gain an understanding of the decision-making process employed by blind and visually impaired consumers in clothing selection and of the problems these consumers face in the retail marketplace revealed that general concerns of respondents included attitudes of salespersons, accessibility of stores, need to obtain more fashion information, and need for education in the areas of clothing selection and construction.

A Study of Microbial Quality of Vacuum Packaged, Sliced Bologna

A study of 113 samples of vacuum packaged sliced bologna offered for sale in the retail marketplace revealed a wide range of total microbial loads. The pH was not closely related with age or microbial load, within the manufacturers' expected shelf-life of the product. Approximately 55% of old samples had pH >6.0, and pH was influenced by manufacturer. Confirmed coliform bacteria were detected in 5% of samples, but Escherichia coli was absent (<3/10g). In contrast, group D streptococci were present, sometimes in large numbers, depending on manufacturer. Potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium perfringens (>10/g), coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (>25/g) and Salmonella (in 25 g of sample) were generally not detected. Only one sample contained >25 S. aureus/g. No relationship was observed between total microbial load and indicator organisms or pathogenic bacteria.