
handle: 11576/2691252
Purpose of the paper: Given that in the last year restaurants had to close for months due to the lockdowns, delivery services have become the only bridge between these firms and their customers. Therefore, the paper aims to explore the impact of fear of COVID-19 and perceived risk of eating out during COVID-19 on customers’ attitude toward using delivery services that, in turn, can lead to positive feelings toward them (brand love) up to addictive ones (continuance intention; brand addiction). Methodology: The paper adopts a web-based self-completion survey and a subsequent structural equation modelling. Main Findings: Results highlighted how (i) the impact of fear of COVID-19 and perceived risk of eating out during COVID-19 positively influence the consumers’ attitude of using delivery services; (ii) this attitude triggers a virtuous process that leads to the formation of consumers’ positive and addictive feelings towards delivery services brands. Practical implications: The study identified possible strategies catering firms could adopt to transform their customers into addictive ones. Originality/value: The paper analyzes a sector particularly relevant from the literature (absence of brand addiction studies focused on this industry) and managerial perspective (this industry represents one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic).
brand addiction; food delivery services; COVID-19; brand love; continuance intention.
brand addiction; food delivery services; COVID-19; brand love; continuance intention.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
