The main goal of this paper is to measure and compare the awareness and preferences of consumers in relation to local products in three countries: Albania, Bulgaria, and Poland. (1) Background: The analysis focused on consumer choices when presented with local products, specifically knowledge as to their environmentally friendly status. The study was evoked by the need to recognize and evaluate changes in consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic and the global challenges related to climate change and the widespread call for nature preservation. (2) Methods: An online survey was conducted with 300 respondents from Poland, 262 from Albania, and 250 from Bulgaria. Statistical analysis was applied. (3) Results: The study answered research questions about consumer readiness to pay a premium price and awareness about the impact of regional products on the environment and livelihood of rural communities. (4) Conclusions: The study proved that consumer perceptions and behavior are influenced by a variety of factors and driving forces in the three countries surveyed depending on socioeconomic characteristics and relevant policies. COVID-19 accelerated the demand for products derived from nature-friendly production systems. Products with geographical indication (GI products) are a better choice from the perspective of sustainable consumption.

Albania is considered one of the most important countries where olives are cultivated due to its geographical position and climate conditions. The country is facing many problems with the quality of olive oil which is related to cultivation methods and agronomic techniques. The economic value of the sector is calculated almost €20 million per year. For years the cultivation of olives and associated products have been considered an important sector within agriculture and are an integral part of the Albanian diet. The current study aims to analyze the factors influencing consumer preferences for a standardized olive oil. The data collection was conducted through a socio-economic survey. The survey was an important element which provided general and specific information linked to the study area. The interviewees were selected randomly. Descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the survey data. As a result, we conclude that Albanian consumers prefer domestic olive oil because they are familiar with the taste and believe in its qualities. Usually, Albanian consumers choose the quality of olive oil at the purchase moment, due to their close relationship with the seller. JEL CODE: D12

Nowadays, it is quite important that business companies understand brand awareness and consumer profile for their products and services. They can take advantage of this information to properly adapt their marketing strategies to the needs of their targeted markets and segments. This research paper aims at measuring brand awareness and consumer profile for different types of milk in Tirana. Through a set of face to face questionnaires, it is revealed that those in charge of purchases in the household are pretty aware of the vast majority of the milk brands available in Tirana market. They also give high evaluation scores to the most known brands. On the other hand, consumers’ profile for different types of milk (UHT vs. pasteurized or fresh) seems to differ based on some specific socio-economic variables of the household and the person in charge of the purchases. The consumers with the highest income and education level are more aware about food safety importance. Such consumers are leaned more towards purchasing UHT milk.

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This paper evaluates willingness to keep and willingness to pay (WTP) of butcher shops in Tirana city for standardized, certificated and packed lamb meat obtained from well-known regions of Albania. Survey results show that butchers have a low degree of knowledge of the issue, and as consequence they are not ready to pay a higher price to their suppliers who offer meat with these characteristics. The estimation results are mainly affected by consumer income, information and tradition.