Food shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory study in four Near Eastern countries

Abstract

Purpose During a pandemic, risk and uncertainty are the most important factors affecting consumer behavior. Near Eastern marketplaces are undergoing dramatic change during the COVID-19 global pandemic. As a result, this paper aims to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on food shopping habits in four countries of the Near East sub-region, namely, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Oman and Qatar. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on an online survey conducted on 1,456 subjects using a snowball sampling technique. The questionnaire consisted of 24 different questions (multiple-choice, one option) regarding the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on food habits such as food shopping, preparation, eating and food waste. Findings The findings show that consumers’ shopping habits and food sourcing in the region changed due to the risk and uncertainty connected with the COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, respondents decreased their shopping frequency and, as a result, increased the amount of food purchased each trip. Secondly, because of food safety concerns, respondents boosted their purchases of local products. Thirdly, the data revealed an increase in online food shopping, mainly in high-income countries, namely, Qatar and Oman. Fourthly, the findings revealed significant disparities in food stockpiling behavior across the countries investigated. Research limitations/implications The major limitation of this study is the survey bias. The survey respondents were randomly hired. The questionnaire was completed by volunteers who were not rewarded. Only those motivated by a personal interest in the topic took part in the study. The sample had a high number of educated individuals, which does not represent the overall populations of the studied countries. In this case, generalizing the findings is inaccurate. A segment of the population with lower accessibility, such as individuals who are not web-literate, as well as the elderly, poor households and informal workers, especially in the Near East and North African (NENA) region, is often underrepresented in online surveys. Practical implications The findings provide insight into how consumers’ food shopping habits have changed due to the pandemic. This and other research will help governments and other organizations better prepare for future disasters and pandemics. The study’s results will also be useful in formulating evidence-based policies for the four countries studied and the NENA area as a whole throughout the post-pandemic recovery phase. The findings, for example, emphasized the necessity of encouraging online shopping by upgrading information and communication technology infrastructure and internet speed, particularly in middle-income and developing countries like Lebanon. Furthermore, in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, the findings provide insights to international organizations (both humanitarian and development ones) to pay more attention to issues of food and nutrition security to avoid the financial and political crises combined with the COVID-19 health crisis, become a humanitarian crisis for locals as well as the hundreds of thousands of refugees (primarily Syrians in Lebanon). Finally, the pandemic’s long-term impact on food activities and food security must be mitigated by including agricultural and food systems in recovery efforts. Several issues are posing a threat to food systems. Addressing them successfully involves developing cross-disciplinary research that innovates at their intersections to provide different solutions that address the social, economic, technological and policy components of these issues. Originality/value The paper’s findings indicate that the pandemic’s consequences will most certainly differ from country to country, based not just on the epidemiologic condition but also, inter alia, on the level of pre-COVID socioeconomic development.

Regional Agriculture and Food Systems Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Near East and North Africa Region

“…Referring to the fruit and vegetable supply chain in Meknes (Morocco), Saidi et al [137] observed that the crisis prompted the emergence of new and more sustainable food supply methods, such as mutualized and local sourcing, as well as reduced food waste, leading the move towards sustainability. [165]; AlTarrah et al [121]; Belton et al [208]; Ben Hassen et al [145]; Ben Hassen et al [6]; Ben Hassen et al [141]; Dimassi et al [127]; Elgammal et al [171]; Ghali-Zinoubi [183]; Hamade [130]; Kaitibie et al [146]; Saidi et al [137]; Saidi et al [138]; Sobaih and Moustafa [179]; Sundarakani and Onyia [193]; Taybeh et al [119]; Zainal et al [124] 25 (16.55%) Consumption (including food services and food waste)…”

“…The pandemic also affected the marketing and distribution of agri-food products. Several studies report increased recourse to food delivery and e-commerce for food procurement during the pandemic [6,73,77,130,135,156].…”

“…Algheshairy et al [73]; Alharthi [154]; Alhusseini and Alqahtani [155]; Alhusseini et al [156]; Alkhalaf et al [157]; ALkharashi [159]; Almousa and Alagal [160]; Al-Musharaf [75]; Al-Musharaf et al [76]; Alotiby and Al-Harbi [163]; Alqurashi [164]; Alyami et al [166]; Ammar et al [207]; Bahatheg [64]; Bakhsh et al [168]; Ben Hassen et al [145]; Ben Hassen et al [125]; Ben Hassen et al [6]; Ben Hassen et al [141]; Ben Hassen et al [8]; Ben Khadda et al [200]; Braiji et al [169]; Bushnaq et al [170]; Cheikh Ismail et al [126]; Cheikh Ismail et al [203]; Dimassi et al [127]; El Bilali et al [135]; El Khoury and Julien [128]; El-Akabawy et al [80]; Elsahoryi et al [112]; Faour-Klingbeil et al [206]; Gedeon et al [67];…”

“…The spread of the coronavirus (cf. confirmed cases), as well as the fatalities caused by it, varies by country/region [3][4][5][6][7][8]. In this regard, the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region was no exception.…”

Shopping to Release Stress? Understanding The Role of Coping Stress and Gender on Online Shopping Behavior in College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This research is considered important because previous research related to online shopping behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in the psychological theme focused on negative variables such as depression (Di Crosta et al, 2021), or related to positive perceptions and attitudes of using technology (Alhaimer, 2021;Polas, Tabash, Jahanshashi, & Ahamed, 2022;Sumi & Ahmed, 2022), or trust issues (Ben Hassen, El Bilali, & Allahyari, 2022). This research Rahardjo, Pranandari, Putri, Qomariyah, Rini, & Andriani: Understanding the…….…”