Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Behavior in Fresh Food Ecommerce: A Data-Driven Study

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Abstract

The COVID-19 epidemic has had a significant impact on customer behavior, especially in the ecommerce industry for fresh foods. To understand how the crisis altered buying habits, hoarding tendencies, and demographic reactions, this study examines a dataset of 5,000 transactions from a Bangladeshi e-commerce platform that spans pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. According to the research, there was a noticeable shift toward digital transactions and a sharp increase in online fresh food purchases throughout the pandemic, with sales volumes rising by more than 200% in some areas. Fears of shortages and supply chain disruptions caused hoarding behavior, which was previously uncommon, to rapidly increase, particularly among customers between the ages of 18 and 65. The most hoarded foods were fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and meat, indicating a desire for wholesome, perishable items. Despite the fact that the majority of customers did not engage in panic buying, gender analysis revealed that hoarding was common across all categories. Due to logistical challenges and shifting priorities for purchases, the survey also shows a notable rise in delivery delays and greater order values among hoarders. Consumers prioritized safety, convenience, and food security as a result of these behavioral changes brought on by lockdown procedures, public health concerns, and the closing of traditional food shops. The research emphasizes how important data-driven analysis is to comprehending changing customer demands and the necessity of flexible supply chain adjustments. There are still questions over the long-term viability of these patterns, even though some behavioral changes might continue after the pandemic. The study highlights important topics for further investigation, such as the factors that contribute to long-lasting behavioral change, the robustness of e-commerce supply chains, and the consequences for food retail innovation in the wake of the epidemic.

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