The Effects of Food-Related Retail Ambient Scents on Healthy/Unhealthy Food Purchases: An Abstract

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Retailers use ambient scent as a strategic tool to create an overall ambience and influence consumers. Food-related ambient scents are especially common in stores and restaurants. This research examines how indulgent (i.e., unhealthy) as opposed to non-indulgent (i.e., healthy) food-related ambient scents influence consumers’ food choices. The results of three field studies with children and adult consumers show that indulgent (vs. non-indulgent) food-related ambient scents lead to lower sales of unhealthy food items. Follow-up studies replicate this finding in the laboratory and provide evidence for cross-modal sensory compensation as the process driving the effects of indulgent food-related ambient scents on unhealthy food choices. Implications for retail design and consumer well-being are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationDevelopments in Marketing Science
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages81
Number of pages1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

Publication series

NameDevelopments in Marketing Science: Proceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science
ISSN (Print)2363-6165
ISSN (Electronic)2363-6173

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Marketing
  • Strategy and Management

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