Private labels and consumer decision-making in Spain
Open Access
- 15 September 2025
- journal article
- Published by Emerald Publishing in British Food Journal
- Vol. 127 (13) , 719-736
Abstract
Purpose: Private labels (PLs) are experiencing rapid growth across Europe and the U.S., with Spain emerging as one of the leading markets, where retailers such as Mercadona have positioned PLs as category benchmarks. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing PL consumer behaviour in Spain, where PLs account for more than 45% of the market share. Design/methodology/approach: We identified eight key dimensions of consumer perception and applied a multiple linear regression model to examine their relationship with customer loyalty and product category engagement. Findings: The findings reveal a strong positive relationship between loyalty to PLs, the number of product categories purchased and the perceived importance of product quality. The results also highlight the effectiveness of retailers’ strategies in building PLs that compete on both variety and perceived value. Practical implications: Beyond theoretical contributions, this study provides actionable insights for business and policy. For retailers, the findings emphasize the need to invest in consistent product quality, segmentation strategies and loyalty-building initiatives. For policymakers, the growth of PLs presents an opportunity to enhance consumer access to affordable, high-quality goods, foster market competitiveness and support household resilience amid economic uncertainty. Originality/value: This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing PL consumer behaviour in Spain, where PLs account for more than 45% of the market share.Keywords
This publication has 52 references indexed in Scilit:
- Income inequality and consumer preference for private labels versus national brandsJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 2022
- When Sustainability is Not a Liability: The Halo Effect of Marketplace MoralityJournal of Consumer Psychology, 2020
- The interactive effect of power distance belief and consumers’ status on preference for national (vs. private-label) brandsJournal of Business Research, 2020
- How to brand your private labelsBusiness Horizons, 2018
- Assesing the success of private labels online: differences across categories in the grocery industryElectronic Commerce Research, 2017
- Can copycat private labels improve the consumer’s shopping experience? A fluency explanationJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 2017
- Supplier inferences to enhance private label perceptionsJournal of Business Research, 2012
- How brand awareness relates to market outcome, brand equity, and the marketing mixJournal of Business Research, 2012
- Private Labels, National Brands and Food PricesReview of Industrial Organization, 2008
- Private label positioning: Quality versus feature differentiation from the national brandJournal of Retailing, 2006