The intense competition among fresh food e-commerce platforms in China has reduced the market share of the leading firms. This study aims to establish a model framework based on brand knowledge, perceived value, brand trust, and purchase intention to improve the market competitiveness of fresh food e-commerce platforms. Based on the analysis of 475 questionnaires using SmartPLS software, the results indicate that the established model framework provides an excellent explanation and forecasting (R2 = 45.5%) for consumers’ intentions to purchase fresh food. The path analysis results of this study show that there are significant positive effects among the model variables. Among antecedent variables, brand image has the greatest influence on perceived value, perceived value has the greatest influence on brand trust, and brand trust has the most significant impact on purchase intention. Furthermore, perceived value and brand trust have noteworthy mediating and serial mediating effects on brand knowledge and purchase intention. These findings have important implications for theoretical and managerial practices in the context of fresh food e-commerce platforms, providing insights on how to enhance customer purchase intentions.

As the global population continues to grow, the impact of environmental damage and resource depletion has been severely increased. In this context, green food gains tremendous potential as a sustainable solution. This study establishes a model framework around social identity, psychological distance, green perceived value, and purchase intention from the perspective of social identity to explore the impact the social group has on individual green food purchase intention. Data from 497 questionnaires collected in China were validated using SPSS26 and SmartPLS4. The results demonstrated that the model exhibited excellent explanatory power for psychological distance (R2 = 47.5%), green perceived value (R2 = 48.2%), and purchase intention of green food (R2 = 54.7%). Path analysis showed that social identity, psychological distance, and green perceived value significantly positively affected green food purchase intention. The results also show that social identity significantly positively affected psychological distance and green perceived value, while psychological distance has a significant positive influence on green perceived value. Additionally, it is concluded that psychological distance and green perceived value have significant mediating and serial mediating effects on social identity and green food purchase intention. These findings bridge the research gap concerning consumers’ green food purchase intention from a group perspective, thereby offering great insights for the formulation of sustainable policies. Furthermore, the study provides both theoretical and practical implications for the expansion of the green food consumption market.