Assessing the maximum level of customer satisfaction in grocery stores

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to establish the main factors that underlie store attributes, to examine which exert the greatest influences on the achievement of a maximum level of customer satisfaction. This study seeks to determine if there are significant differences not only in the factor compositions but also in their influence on customer satisfaction, depending on the country of residence of focal customers.Design/methodology/approachThe test of the proposed framework consists of analyses of two samples of customers that purchased in grocery stores in Spain and the USA. Following a factor analysis of the principal components, a binary logistic regression analysis tests the influence of the identified factors on customer satisfaction.FindingsThis work contributes to extant literature by assessing differences in the main factors that contribute to satisfaction with food stores, depending on the location of the customer.Practical implicationsThis work is especially useful to grocery retailers that operate, or plan to operate, in different countries; it outlines key factors to consider to achieve upper‐bounded customer satisfaction scores.Originality/valueThe proposed classification of attributes and factors, according to their importance for customers' evaluations in different countries, includes three main factors. The first‐order factor includes the most valued attributes by all customers, independent of the country of residence. The second‐order factors include attributes with lesser importance though still valued by customers; the importance depends on the country of residence. Finally, the third‐order factor attributes are valued relatively less.

Customers' relationship with their grocery store: Direct and moderating effects from store format and loyalty programs

“…This result meets the perceptions of the interviewed store managers, and also the results in Martínez-Ruiz et al (2010; Martínez-Ruiz et al (2011). Nevertheless, in the current study there is no evidence of higher levels of customers' satisfaction and loyalty in supermarkets, contradicting the results of Juhl et al (2002).…”

The impact of culture, evaluation of store image and satisfaction on purchase intention at supermarkets

“…The first two affected consumer satisfaction, but convenience and service had a larger weight in the explanation. Martínez-Ruiz, Jiménez-Zarco, and Cascio (2011) extended the research to the USA and achieved the same results as the study carried out in 2010. Watanabe, Lima, and Torres (2013) investigated the effect of store image attributes on consumer satisfaction in Brazilian supermarkets.…”

“Man, I shop like a woman!” The effects of gender and emotions on consumer shopping behaviour outcomes

“…Research indicates that positive retail environment perceptions can increase consumers' shopping behaviour outcomes, such as satisfaction (Babin and Darden, 1996;Dholakia and Zhao, 2010;Dubé and Morin, 2001;Hsu et al, 2010;Huddleston et al, 2009;Martínez-Ruiz et al, 2011;North and Hargreaves, 1996;Nsairi, 2012;Otieno et al, 2005). Furthermore, retail environments also influence recommendation and return intentions (Nyer, 1997;Westbrook, 1987).…”