Consumer behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background. COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat in area of public health. In the light of dynamic increase of infections European countries decided to implement special safety measures in order to stop spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Reduction of the activity of shopping galleries, grocery stores and gastronomy directly impacted the change of consumer behaviours. Objective. The aim of this research was the analysis of consumer behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic regarding the use of gastronomical services, grocery shopping and undertaken safety measures. Material and methods. The main instrument was original survey conducted on-line in November 2020. The form consisted of metrics and close-ended questions about consumer behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic. 1080 respondents took part in the study (females - 850; men - 230). Results were mapped out in Statistics 13.1 program and graphical representation was prepared in Microsoft Excel. Results. More than half of respondents were working people (n=629; 58%). Vast majority of working respondents during the study were working stationary (n=304; 48%), while remotely only 33% (n=208). Among young respondents almost half of the group was unemployed (n=158; 45%), while the rest of the group was employed (n=195; 55%). Professional activities in the group of respondents that were still learning was mostly stationary/ physic (n=57; 29%). During the pandemic the stationary form of working switched into remote in every third of respondent (n=307; 28%). Conclusions. Global pandemic of COVID-19 forced people to change their current behaviours - both consumer and social. Consumers are aware of risks borne by SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may be concluded from undertaken safety measures.

Keywords

• covid-19
• sars-cov-2
• consumer behavior
• pandemic
• gastronomy