Pre- and post-pandemic seafood purchasing behavior in the U.S.

Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 4 authors, 4 centres

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TL;DR

This cross-sectional online survey compared U.S. seafood consumers' purchasing behaviors in 2019 versus 2020. The central result is that at-home consumption of meals, including seafood, increased significantly during the pandemic, while away-from-home consumption decreased.

Full summary

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The descriptive analysis used a 2x2 ANOVA to assess mean differences. The study found that the pandemic led to a significant increase in at-home meal consumption and a significant decrease in away-from-home consumption for both general food and seafood. Frequency of takeout orders decreased, but home-delivered meal frequency did not change. Demographic analysis showed older, lower-income, less educated, and female respondents prepared more seafood at home, while younger, higher-income, higher-educated, and male respondents used online grocery and meal delivery channels more.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

public health

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

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100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10028220

Pre- and post-pandemic seafood purchasing behavior in the U.S.

Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

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ABSTRACT

Abstract The global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented economic shock in current times. Previous literature on consumer shopping behaviors during economic downturns is limited, and studies specific to seafood focused primarily on supply-side shocks. A national survey was conducted using an online platform from February 22 to April 6, 2021 that targeted 100 seafood consumers in each of 20 market areas across the U.S. Following data cleaning, 1908 usable responses were obtained. Results documented significant changes in consumer shopping behaviors. Significantly greater percentages of meals (generally and of seafood) were consumed at home and fewer away from home, as expected. Demographic differences were found in shopping behaviors by age, education, income, and gender, but not by ethnic group. Frequency of shopping decreased in 2020, but the expenditure per shopping trip did not, resulting in less overall spending for groceries as compared to 2019. Respondents were less likely to purchase seafood for takeout or for home delivery of prepared meals as compared to general meals because of concerns over quality, freshness, and safety of seafood. Half of respondents consumed approximately the same amount of seafood as before the pandemic; with 31% reporting decreased seafood consumption, and only 19% increased seafood consumption. Thus, study results provide evidence of a pandemic-imposed shift to consuming greater proportions of seafood meals at-home than away-from-home, and not an overall increase in seafood consumption. The choice of species eaten most often did not differ pre- and post-pandemic. Those respondents who reported decreased seafood consumption in 2020 did so primarily because of: 1) its expense, given reduced incomes from working fewer hours or being laid off; 2) unwillingness to prepare fish at home for the smell and “mess”, or being uncomfortable preparing it; or 3) simply not preferring or liking seafood well enough to eat it more frequently. Those who reported increasing seafood consumption did so primarily because it was considered to be a healthy food choice. Additional work is needed to further examine consumption and shopping behaviors throughout the recovery in 2021 and 2022. Keywords: Consumer behavior, Seafood markets, Seafood purchases, Pandemic, Shopping behavior

CITATION EXPORT

Carole Engle, Jonathan van Senten, Ganesh Kumar et al.. Pre- and post-pandemic seafood purchasing behavior in the U.S.. Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands). (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.739491

AUTHORS

4 · 4 CENTRES

Carole Engle, Jonathan van Senten, Ganesh Kumar, Madan Dey

aEngle-Stone Aquatic$ LLC, 320 Faith Lane, Strasburg, VA, USA
bVirginia Seafood AREC & Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Center for Coastal Studies Affiliate Faculty, Virginia Tech, Hampton, VA, USA
cDelta Research and Extension Center, Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, MS, USA
dDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA