In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the novel food market due to the growing demand for protein-rich food and the diversification of the protein sources currently used. The edible insect and insect based-food sector has recently experienced an increase in the quantities produced and traded. This increase has occurred thanks to awareness-raising actions and the development of European regulations. The limited development of this sector does not permit in-depth market and business analyses, since it is still in formation, which means that it is still a relatively unexplored field of study, especially on the European scene. The objective of this study is to carry out a preliminary investigation of the consistency, typology and product assortment of the companies located in the European Union and which are focused on the production and marketing of insect-based products. The survey was performed through the investigation of the E-commerce catalogues and Internet websites of the companies. The study also focuses on the main insect species used, the origin of the raw material used and the prices of products currently available on the European market. The results show that companies are mainly located in the northern European countries and that the most used distribution channels are the E-commerce websites, compared to physical retail outlets. Most companies also buy their raw material from third party companies, even non-European ones, and then process or only resell the product. The products which sold the most were whole insects or insect meal, mainly based on Tenebrio molitor or Acheta domesticus. Prices showed a high variability, in particular related to the species used and how it is packaged.

Purpose: As is well known, there are several aspects that characterise honey consumption and the reasons for purchasing it. Despite this, little attention has been paid to the drivers that move consumers towards the use of honey for its health benefits and therapeutic properties. The aim of this study is to define which drivers move the consumption of honey for its health benefits. Design/methodology/approach: The study, conducted on 640 Italian honey consumers, applied inferential tests (Chi-square) and an econometric model (logit regression), and showed that about 66% of the respondents stated that they consume honey for its health properties. Findings: The main drivers of honey consumption are both among the intrinsic (Colour) and extrinsic (Origin and Organic certification) attributes of the product. What also emerges is that the propensity to consume honey for health purposes is influenced by the consumer characteristics and habits, such as Age cohort, Gender, BMI and Large retail buyer. Moreover, we observed that consumption is influenced by BMI but not by lifestyle characteristics such as sport and diet. Originality/value: This study could be a support tool for policymakers who are interested in promoting good nutrition and improving public health, since there is great interest in the functional properties of foods and the need to enhance the value of products, while at the same time ensuring consumer protection.

In recent years, honey consumption has attracted an increasing interest among consumers, due to its beneficial properties for health and to the multiplicity of its use. Given the high importance that consumers ascribe to the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label, considered as one of the most relevant attributes for agro-food consumers, this study aims at detecting the main variables that influence the attitudes of honey consumers toward the PDO label by analyzing the purchasing intention of a convenience sample of northern Italian consumers. With this purpose, a logistic regression model analysis was performed, based on the consumers’ stated preference for PDO honey. The research highlights that those consumers who give their preference to PDO honey, also associate this label with aspects linked to environmental sustainability and to its organic production. Moreover, only gender, among the socio-demographic characteristics, had a significant effect on consumer attitudes toward the PDO label.

The global honey market has witnessed constant growth over recent decades, especially in Asian regions. In recent years, the increase in export flows of this product throughout the world has raised the issue of the lack of international import standards and regulations, making trade susceptible to variables that are not only economic, but also social or political. The objective of this study is therefore to explore, using the econometric methodology of gravity models, what the determinants of the international honey trade are, both economic and socio-cultural, and to verify whether a niche market, such as the one being examined, is influenced by these covariates, in a similar manner to the main commodities of the agri-food sector, or if honey displays a unique behavior. The results show that honey market behavior is not statistically different from that of the main agri-food products already studied and that the cultural distance, introduced as a covariate, does not have a significant influence.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the role of mothers in administering afternoon snacks to children aged between 6 and 10. Through an exploratory analysis, this study aims at identifying how sociodemographic characteristics of mothers and children and objective and subjective nutritional awareness of the parent influences healthy or unhealthy food choices for the children.Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was submitted to 242 mothers of children attending primary school. Non-parametric correlation using Spearman's coefficient was adopted as an exploratory analysis tool.Findings: The analysis shows that the mothers' level of education and income influence the purchase of snack products. More permissive parents tend to be less well-off, have more than one child and also purchase sweet treats, salty snacks, and sugary drinks more frequently. Furthermore, the results show that parents' perceived subjective awareness is actually lower than their objective awareness, but also that both types of knowledge positively influence the purchase of healthy snacks.Originality/value: There is extensive research documenting the importance of parents in reducing the risk of obesity; however, their influence on snack intake has not been widely discussed. Furthermore, the association between the occurrence of obesity and parents' behaviour regarding their children's snacking remains unclear. To bridge this gap, this study focuses on a meal which is often linked to poor eating habits: the afternoon snack.