The effects of COVID-19 pandemic in consumers buying preferences for staple products

Abstract

          The COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's lifestyles and work settings, as well as how and where they make purchases, what they value, and how they envision the future. While some of these variations are temporary, others will persist long after the pandemic is over. The COVID-19 crisis has an impact on staple food consumption, such as rice and wheat, and continues to have an impact on all food systems at all levels. The study's objectives and purpose were to determine how Covid-19 affects consumers who buy staple products, as well as what attributes or factors consumers seek when comparing and purchasing staple products, and whether or not consumers would assess staple products in terms of primacy/necessity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The researchers chose to collect data using the purposive sampling strategy. Purposive sampling is used because it provides researchers with in-depth and clear information about the question. It also provides externally valid findings. The data were collected from interviews since the researchers utilized a qualitative study and purposive sampling strategy. It assists researchers in better understanding, explaining, and exploring the qualities, behavior, experiences, opinions, facts, preferences, and other characteristics of participants. The findings of this study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on consumer behavior. When it came to the importance of staple products in providing safety and security for their well-being, consumers became more cautious.