title: Analysis of personal and cultural values as key determinants of novel food acceptance. Application to an ethnic product.
abstract: This paper sets out to analyse whether the complexity and the type of benefits and values pursued in the consumer choice process for a novel food product (couscous) varies with the consumer's ethnic origin (Spanish and Arab). A qualitative study was used to explore these issues in an application of the "means-end chain" theory. The hierarchical value maps obtained point to the presence of an important emotional dimension in the consumption of the selected product, particularly Arab consumers, suggesting that greater familiarity with the product results in a more complex choice process. Some cross-cultural variation can also be observed. Arab consumers attach more importance to issues such as the geographic origin of the product, cultural identification, and fulfilment of family duty. Spanish couscous consumers, meanwhile, claim that it is a way to follow the latest trends, and be more cosmopolitan and more successful within their environment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Gestión de Empresas, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barrena
authors.affiliation: Departamento Gestión de Empresas, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: tegar@unavarra.es.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Departamento Gestión de Empresas, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People
keywords: Cultural identification; Ethnic identity; Globalisation; Means–end chain; Novel foods