Klaipėdos universitetas

The research was made to identify how the retail strategy of a specialized regional chain should be reshaped in order to meet consumer requirements and satisfy their needs, compete against different store formats and maximize business efficiency. The analysis was made to identify alcoholic beverages consumption and buying habits, reasons and choice criteria of stores, perception, image and expectations of a specialized alcohol store. Also several business development ideas were tested, such as change of the assortment and evaluation of new concept of a retail chain. Sampled respondents were from 18 to 60 years old, who have bought alcoholic beverages last three months. Survey revealed that that consumer’s choice criteria of a retailer format differs considering different buying occasions and several dominant ‘must-haves’ were identified for a specialized retail store, such as location, assortment, price level of a best sellers and image of a store.

This article reflects the impact of regulatory decisions of the Republic of Latvia on the food retail sector and sustainable product supply provided by food retail chains, as well as on operational trends. Attention has been drawn to the law of the Republic of Latvia on the key characteristics of foodstuffs and sales on the market. The research covers development of classification of the main instruments characterizing the products subject to the national regulation, as well as development of a scheme of the impact of the Latvian authorities on the operation of food retail chains. To implement the goal and tasks of the research, the authors have applied quantitative and qualitative research methods of economics, i.e., comparison, grouping, graphical, assessment and analytical methods. The research is based on the results of the previous research conducted by the authors so far, the law of the Republic of Latvia, scientific works published by other scientists, general and special literature and periodicals. The authors have summarized the findings and conducted comparative analysis of the regulatory decisions of the Republic of Latvia as well as presented a market survey within the research.

Over the years, improved techniques for production and processing of food have resulted in the expansion of our food supply byprolonging keeping times, preventing spoilage and increasing the variety of food products available. The use of new technologies infood production has potential benefits for both food manufactures and consumers. But one of the question raising is how consumersreact to the new technologies and how does it impact their choice to buy or not to buy such kind of food. This article examines howthe new technologies in food production (genetic engineering, nanotechnologies, cloning) affect consumer choice to purchase foodobtained through these technologies. Different literature and scientific data available were summarized to find out the main reasonswhat affect consumers’ attitude towards new technologies in food production. Results suggest that the willingness to consume foodobtained with help of new technologies is directly influenced by the risk consumers perceive and the perception of risk is more directthan the perception of supposed benefits.