Specialty food retailing The role of purchase frequency and determinants of customer satisfaction and loyalty

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to address the following question: "Does purchase frequency influence consumer behaviour in the specialty food retailing setting?", since purchase frequency is a consumer-based undertaken variable. For this purpose, the authors provide and empirically test a conceptual model focussed on specialty food retailing. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected through a structured questionnaire in the USA, gathering 592 valid responses and analysis was developed through structural equation modelling. Findings - Findings indicate that satisfaction and loyalty towards specialty food stores are strongly influenced by consumers' purchase frequency of specialty food products. Additionally, the findings support the moderating role of purchase frequency on the relationship between store service and satisfaction, as well as on the link store environment satisfaction. Originality/value - Specialty food retailers should carry out marketing strategies focussing on consumer behaviour and segmentation could be developed considering purchase frequency.