Food purchasing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Italian household scanner data

This studyanalysesfoodanddrinkpurchasingpatternsoftheItalian populationaftertheonsetofCOVID-19pandemic.Basedongovernmen- tal restrictionsatnationalandregionallevel,weexplorechangesincon- sumption behaviorduetoenactedrestrictions.Severalphenomenamay havea ectedfoodanddrinkpurchases:(i)closureofrestaurantsandbars, schoolsandworkplacesnecessaryimpliesashifttowardshomeconsump- tion ofmeals,henceahigherquantityoffoodanddrinkpurchasedforcon- sumption at-home,duetosubstitution;(ii)fewervisitstostoresbecause of stayathomerestrictionsandanticipationofpotentialfoodshortages mayinducestockpilingandonlineshopping;(iii)thequality(asproxied byunitvalues)ofpurchasedfoodmaychangebecauseoffewerpromotions and increasedpropensitytosavemoney;(iv)increasedtimeavailability becauseofabridgingcommutingtimeandcancellingout-of-homeleisure activities maycauseashifttowardspurchasesofrawingredients,anda decrease inpurchasesofreadymealandconveniencefoods;(v)increased psychologicaldistresscausedbyimposedrestrictionsandnegativenews mayincreaseemotionalconsumptionofsomefoodanddrinks. In ordertotestfortherelevanceofthesefactors,weusehouseholdscanner data onfoodanddrinkpurchasesinItaly,coveringfoodweeklypurchases and soft-drinksdailypurchasesforapanelofnearlytenthousandhouse- holds overtheyears2019and2020.