{"title":"The wait for authenticity: The role of consumer innovativeness in shaping food truck perceptions","authors":"Wei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104137","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food trucks are crucial to food tourism for their authentic and innovative offerings. Based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this study examines the predictors and mediators influencing consumer behavior in food truck consumption, with a particular focus on how waiting time acts as a moderator. Data were collected via an online sampling company. Symmetric analysis revealed that food quality and food authenticity mediate the relationships between consumer innovativeness (novelty seeking, vigilance, hedonic seeking) and behavioral intention. Waiting time was found to amplify the relationship between food authenticity and behavioral intention. Asymmetric results identified distinct configurations that predict high and low customer intentions to revisit food trucks. These findings offer significant theoretical contributions and practical implications, guiding strategies to optimize food quality, manage waiting times effectively, and encourage customer revisits. Ultimately, this research advances management practices within the food truck industry and enriches food tourism experiences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48444,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Hospitality Management","volume":"127 ","pages":"Article 104137"},"PeriodicalIF":9.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Hospitality Management","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027843192500060X","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Food trucks are crucial to food tourism for their authentic and innovative offerings. Based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this study examines the predictors and mediators influencing consumer behavior in food truck consumption, with a particular focus on how waiting time acts as a moderator. Data were collected via an online sampling company. Symmetric analysis revealed that food quality and food authenticity mediate the relationships between consumer innovativeness (novelty seeking, vigilance, hedonic seeking) and behavioral intention. Waiting time was found to amplify the relationship between food authenticity and behavioral intention. Asymmetric results identified distinct configurations that predict high and low customer intentions to revisit food trucks. These findings offer significant theoretical contributions and practical implications, guiding strategies to optimize food quality, manage waiting times effectively, and encourage customer revisits. Ultimately, this research advances management practices within the food truck industry and enriches food tourism experiences.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Hospitality Management serves as a platform for discussing significant trends and advancements in various disciplines related to the hospitality industry. The publication covers a wide range of topics, including human resources management, consumer behavior and marketing, business forecasting and applied economics, operational management, strategic management, financial management, planning and design, information technology and e-commerce, training and development, technological developments, and national and international legislation.
In addition to covering these topics, the journal features research papers, state-of-the-art reviews, and analyses of business practices within the hospitality industry. It aims to provide readers with valuable insights and knowledge in order to advance research and improve practices in the field.
The journal is also indexed and abstracted in various databases, including the Journal of Travel Research, PIRA, Academic Journal Guide, Documentation Touristique, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism Abstracts, Lodging and Restaurant Index, Scopus, CIRET, and the Social Sciences Citation Index. This ensures that the journal's content is widely accessible and discoverable by researchers and practitioners in the hospitality field.