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Abstract
A quality differentiation strategy for agrifood products based on geographical origin and
production method has become a viable alternative for certain firms in the internationalized
food markets, if it could be considered as a rural development instrument. This method of
adding value to their products nevertheless requires them to take into account not only objective
factors, which tend to be related to product characteristics, but also subjective factors that are
more closely linked to consumers’ assessment of their differentiating features and the factors
that influence that assessment. The study confirms using various structural equation models the
key impact of consumers’ attitudes towards these products (image) on final purchase behaviour.
The experiment was conducted both inside and outside the production region of two selected
food items and in all markets it will be necessary to act upon both attitudinal components, that
is, product image in its various dimensions and consumer attitude toward the region of origin,
in order to develop these markets, where, currently, product characteristics are found to have
the stronger influence.