Dr Alan Collins
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Department of Food Business
Department of Food Business
University College Cork
Biography
BA (Economics Sociology) 1986 National University of Ireland, Cork
MA (Economics) 1988 National University of Ireland, Cork
PhD (Marketing) 2001 University of Stirling
Research Interests
My main area of interest lies in the food retailing, its supply chain, consumer and shopper behaviour.
I consider myself an interdisciplinary researcher drawing on my background in sociology, economics and marketing with a passion for food retailing formed over many years working in Cork's English Market, Tesco UK, and with extensive collaboration with Musgrave and Supervalu retailers throughout the country both as an educator and store of the year adjudicator.
To date, much of my research interests and publications occupied the field of marketing channels and in particular how evolving retail strategies have impacted on the indigenous supplier base and channel relationships particularly in light of the emergence of the retailer as the brand. This work has been published in a variety of ABS 3 publications including Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, the Journal of Marketing Management and the European Journal of Marketing.
More recently, I have turned my research focus to consumer and shopper behaviour with a particular emphasis on search related activities. These have included price and promotional search, recently published in the Journal of Marketing Management and the emergence of a new consumer heuristic in the form of a Store Brandscape to be published shortly in the European Journal of Marketing. On-going projects in this space include a Teagasc funded doctoral researcher working on the use of mobile optical technologies (e.g. smartphones) in food related search.
While much of my published research adopts a positivist approach, more recent research with collaborators has extended to integrate a more nuanced and interpretivist perspective on the phenomena under investigation. The focus of this work has been on food consumption and health related behaviours and displays the influence of consumer culture theory. This work has been published in the Sociology of Health and Illness, and Consumption, Markets and Culture.
Research Projects
- Teagasc "Salmonella in Pork: Risks of Transmission" (Teagasc) €25,400.00 (01-OCT-05 / 30-SEP-07)
- Sustainability and Consumer's use of mobile Optical Recognition systems in Food Engagement and Search. (Teagasc) €66,000.00 (01-JUN-14 / 31-MAY-17)
Journal Activities
- Referee, Journal Of Retailing (01-JAN-03 -)
- Referee, European Journal Of Marketing (03-DEC-03 - 03-DEC-14)
- Referee, Supply Chain Management (01-JAN-00 -)
- Referee, The International Review Of Retail, Distribution And Consumer Research (01-JAN-00 -)
- Referee, Agribusiness An International Journal (01-JAN-06 - 01-JAN-06)
- Referee, International Journal Of Retail And Distribution Management (01-JAN-00 -)
Other Activities
- External Examiner BSC Food Marketing and Business Economics, University of Reading 2009-2013External advisor for Masters of Science in Advanced Food Marketing at the University of NewcastleExternal Examiner Open University BSc(Hons) Supply Management 2010-2012External Examiner Bachelor of Science (Hons) Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the Dublin Institute of Technology 2008-2011External Examiner for BSc in Food Management and Marketing. University of Ulster. 2014-2016
Committees
- Member, Academic Council (Commerce Faculty Representative) (2008 / 2012)
- , Irish National Student Survey (2012 /)
- Chair, Chair of Commerce Faculty Postgraduate Applications Sub Commitee (2006 / 2008)
- Chair, Student Module Implementation Group (2011 / 2013)
- Member, Bachelor of Commerce Board of Studies (2002 / 2014)
- Member, Student Needs and Academic Development Committee (2008 / 2011)
- Chair, Credit Accumulation Subgroup (SNAD) (2008 / 2011)
- University Promotion and Establishment, Lecturer Promotion and Establishment Board (2012 /)
- , External Examiners Committee (2011 /)
Education
- University College Cork , BA - ECONOMICS - UCC, Economics and Sociology (1986)
- University College Cork , MA, Economics (1988)
- University of Stirling , UK , PHD, Marketing (2000)
Employment
- Senior Lecturer, UCC Food Business & Development (01-JAN-93 /)
- Buyer, Tesco Plc (01-JAN-92 / 01-JAN-93)
- Marketing Service Executive, Tesco Plc (01-JAN-89 / 01-JAN-92)
Teaching Interests
- Academic Programme Coordinator MBS Food Marketing
- For programme details and links to the application process please contact me directly or go to
- http://www.ucc.ie/en/ck502/
Professional Achievements
Honours and Awards
- : President's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2004)
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication |
|---|---|
| 2017 |
Healthy eating habit: A role for goals, identity, and self-control? McCarthy, Mary B.,Collins, Alan M.,Flaherty, Sarah Jane,McCarthy, Sinead N (2017) Healthy eating habit: A role for goals, identity, and self-control?. : Psychology & Marketing [Details] |
| 2017 |
Can existing mobile apps support healthier food purchasing behaviour? Content analysis of nutrition content, behaviour change theory and user quality integration Flaherty, Sarah-Jane; McCarthy, Mary; Collins, Alan; McAuliffe, Fionnuala (2017) Can existing mobile apps support healthier food purchasing behaviour? Content analysis of nutrition content, behaviour change theory and user quality integration. : Public Health Nutrition [Details] |
| 2017 |
Mavens’ price and non-price on-pack extrinsic cue search behaviours: Implications for store brands Collins Alan M.,George Richard G (2017) Mavens’ price and non-price on-pack extrinsic cue search behaviours: Implications for store brands. : International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management [Details] |
| 2015 |
From store brands to store brandscapes: The emergence of a time and money saving heuristic Collins, A., Cronin, J., Burt, S., and George, R (2015) From store brands to store brandscapes: The emergence of a time and money saving heuristic. : European Journal of Marketing [Details] |
| 2014 |
Money, Mavens, Time and Price Search: Modelling the Joint Creation of Utilitarian and Hedonic Value in Grocery Shopping Collins, A. Kavanagh, E, Cronin J & R. George (2014) Money, Mavens, Time and Price Search: Modelling the Joint Creation of Utilitarian and Hedonic Value in Grocery Shopping. : Journal of Marketing Management [Details] |
| 2014 |
Covert Distinction: how hipsters practice food-based resistance strategies in the production of identity Cronin, J., McCarthy, M., and Collins, A (2014) Covert Distinction: how hipsters practice food-based resistance strategies in the production of identity. : Consumption, Markets and Culture [Details] |
| 2014 |
Creeping edgework: carnivalesque consumption and the social experience of health risk Cronin, J., McCarthy, M. and Collins, A (2014) Creeping edgework: carnivalesque consumption and the social experience of health risk. : Sociology of health & illness [Details] |
| 2012 |
Store Deal Prone Shoppers : Motivators and Implications for the Supply Chain in a Distressed Market Collins, A. Kavanagh, E. and George, R (2012) Store Deal Prone Shoppers : Motivators and Implications for the Supply Chain in a Distressed Market. : The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research [Details] |
| 2011 |
How Brand Communities Emerge: The Beamish Conversion Experience O'Sullivan, S., Richardson, B., Collins, A (2011) How Brand Communities Emerge: The Beamish Conversion Experience. : Journal of Marketing Management [Details] |
| 2011 |
Below Cost Legislation: Lessons from the Republic of Ireland Collins, A. Burt,S.L (2011) Below Cost Legislation: Lessons from the Republic of Ireland. : The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research [Details] |
| 2007 |
Retail Control of Manufacturers' Product-Related Activities Evidence from the Irish Food Manufacturing Sector Collins,A (2007) Retail Control of Manufacturers' Product-Related Activities Evidence from the Irish Food Manufacturing Sector. : Journal of Food Products Marketing [Details] |
| 2006 |
Private brand, governance and relational exchange within retailer manufacturer relationships: Evidence from Irish food manufacturers supplying the Irish and British grocery markets Collins, A. Burt S.L (2006) Private brand, governance and relational exchange within retailer manufacturer relationships: Evidence from Irish food manufacturers supplying the Irish and British grocery markets. : Agribusiness an International Journal [Details] |
| 2006 |
Optimising the Service Mix for Irish Hoteliers: The Challenge for Small Food Suppliers O'Connell, S. Henchion, M. and Collins, A (2006) Optimising the Service Mix for Irish Hoteliers: The Challenge for Small Food Suppliers. : International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management [Details] |
| 2005 |
Top Shelf Foods and Drinks (TSFDs): Females Adolescents' Eating Motives, Constraints and Behaviours During the School Day Collins, A. and McCarthy, M (2005) Top Shelf Foods and Drinks (TSFDs): Females Adolescents' Eating Motives, Constraints and Behaviours During the School Day. : Food Economics [Details] |
| 2005 |
The Small Food Manufacturing Sector in the Irish Grocery Market:: Ensuring Survival by Closing the Supplier-Customer Requirements Gap Cantillon, P., O'Reilly, P. and Collins, A (2005) The Small Food Manufacturing Sector in the Irish Grocery Market:: Ensuring Survival by Closing the Supplier-Customer Requirements Gap. : Journal of Food Products Marketing [Details] |
| 2003 |
Market Sanctions, Power and Monitoring within Retailer-Manufacturer Relationships: The Case of Retail Brand Suppliers Collins A, and Burt, S.L (2003) Market Sanctions, Power and Monitoring within Retailer-Manufacturer Relationships: The Case of Retail Brand Suppliers. : European Journal of Marketing [Details] |
| 2002 |
Threats to brand integrity in the hospitality sector: Evidence from a tourist brand Mangan E. and Collins A (2002) Threats to brand integrity in the hospitality sector: Evidence from a tourist brand. : Intl. Jnl. Contemporary Hospitality Management [Details] |
| 2002 |
The determinants of retailers’ margin related bargaining power: Evidence from the Irish food manufacturers Collins, A (2002) The determinants of retailers’ margin related bargaining power: Evidence from the Irish food manufacturers. : International Journal of Retail & Distribution Mgt [Details] |
| 2001 |
Logistics customer service: performance of Irish food exporters Collins A, Henchion, M and P. O'Reilly (2001) Logistics customer service: performance of Irish food exporters. : International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management [Details] |
| 2001 |
Below-cost legislation and retail conduct: evidence from the Republic of Ireland Collins, A., Burt, S. and K. Oustapassidis (2001) Below-cost legislation and retail conduct: evidence from the Republic of Ireland. : British Food Journal [Details] |
| 1999 |
Dependence in manufacturer-retailer relationships; the potential implications of retail internationalisation for indigenous food manufacturers Collins, A., Burt, S.L (1999) Dependence in manufacturer-retailer relationships; the potential implications of retail internationalisation for indigenous food manufacturers. : Journal of Marketing Management [Details] |
| 1999 |
Efficient Replenishment: The Impact of Coupled Consolidation Collins, A., Henchion, M., and O'Reilly, P (1999) Efficient Replenishment: The Impact of Coupled Consolidation. : Supply Chain Management [Details] |
| 1997 |
The UK Grocery Supply Chain Collins, A (1997) The UK Grocery Supply Chain. : Journal of Food Products Marketing [Details] |
Other Journals
| Year | Publication |
|---|---|
| 2001 |
An Investigation into service Quality Variation within a Tourist Brand: The Case of the Shamrock Mangan, E. and Collins, A (2001) An Investigation into service Quality Variation within a Tourist Brand: The Case of the Shamrock. : Agribusiness Discussion Paper [Details] |
| 1998 |
Collins, A. (1998): The Irish Food Manufacturing Sector: Current Customer Portfolios in the Irish and UK Grocery Markets Collins, A (1998) Collins, A. (1998): The Irish Food Manufacturing Sector: Current Customer Portfolios in the Irish and UK Grocery Markets. : Agribusiness Discussion Paper [Details] |
| 1997 |
Below Cost Legislation and retail Performance Collins A. and Oustapassidis K (1997) Below Cost Legislation and retail Performance. : Agribusiness Discussion Paper [Details] |
| 1997 |
Evolving Channels: Changing Retailer-Manufacturer Relationships [B3808] Collins, Alan (1997) Evolving Channels: Changing Retailer-Manufacturer Relationships [B3808]. : Structural Change In The European Food Industries, Disc [Details] |
| 1995 |
A Study of Dairy Policy Alternatives Keane, M., and Collins, A (1995) A Study of Dairy Policy Alternatives. : Agribusiness Discussion Paper [Details] |
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication |
|---|---|
| 2008 |
L'interdiction de la vente à perte et sa suppression.L'expérience irlandaise Collins, A (2008) L'interdiction de la vente à perte et sa suppression.L'expérience irlandaise. : Colla, E : Vuibert [Details] |
| 2008 |
Food choice in Ireland: The potential influences on food consumption during teenage years McCarthy, M & Collins, A (2008) Food choice in Ireland: The potential influences on food consumption during teenage years. : : Nova Science Publishers, Inc [Details] |
Published Reports
| Year | Publication |
|---|---|
| 2001 |
Irish retail grocery buyers: evaluation of products and suppliers Cantillon,P. O'Reilly, P. and Collins, A (2001) Irish retail grocery buyers: evaluation of products and suppliers. : Technical Publication [Details] |
| 2000 |
Developments in Food Retailing Collins, A (2000) Developments in Food Retailing. [Details] |
| 1999 |
Trends in Food Retailing Collins, A (1999) Trends in Food Retailing. [Details] |
| 1999 |
Increasing the logistics efficiency of Irish food exports Henchion, M., O'Reilly, P. and A. Collins (1999) Increasing the logistics efficiency of Irish food exports. [Details] |
| 1999 |
Trends in Food Distribution Collins, A (1999) Trends in Food Distribution. [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
Sustainability and Consumer’s Use of Mobile Optical Recognition Systems in Food Engagement and Search: The Emergence of a Conceptual Framework Collins, Alan; Forde, Elaine; Henchion, Maeve; Kelleher, Carol (2016) Sustainability and Consumer’s Use of Mobile Optical Recognition Systems in Food Engagement and Search: The Emergence of a Conceptual Framework. [Details] |
| 2015 |
Price Search, Caculative Trust and Store Loyalty in the Grocery Market Collins, A., Kavanagh, E. and George, R (2015) Price Search, Caculative Trust and Store Loyalty in the Grocery Market. [Details] |
| 2014 |
Own Brands Saving Time and Money Collins, A., Cronin, J., Burt, S., and R. George (2014) Own Brands Saving Time and Money. [Details] |
| 2013 |
An Investigation of the Relationship between Price Search and Store Brand Proneness . In: Mollá A., Frasquet M., University of Valencia. Valencia Spain. July 3-4 (22 pages)ISBN 978-84-695-8171- eds Collins, A. Burt,S., Cronin, J. & R. George (2013) An Investigation of the Relationship between Price Search and Store Brand Proneness . In: Mollá A., Frasquet M., University of Valencia. Valencia Spain. July 3-4 (22 pages)ISBN 978-84-695-8171- eds. [Details] |
| 2002 |
The organisation of retailer-manufacturer relationships Collins, A (2002) The organisation of retailer-manufacturer relationships. [Details] |
| 2000 |
Determinants of retailers' product monitoring activities within private label trading relationships Collins, A;Burt, S (2000) Determinants of retailers' product monitoring activities within private label trading relationships. [Details] |
| 2011 |
Modelling Store Deal Proneness: An Economic Perspective Collins, A. Kavanagh, E. and George, R (2011) Modelling Store Deal Proneness: An Economic Perspective. [Details] |
| 2009 |
Below Cost Legislation ? Did it matter and would it really matter today? Collins, A (2009) Below Cost Legislation ? Did it matter and would it really matter today?. [Details] |
| 2005 |
Top Shelf Foods and Drinks (TSFDs): Females Adolescents' Eating Motives, Constraints and Behaviours During the School Day Collins A. and McCarthy M (2005) Top Shelf Foods and Drinks (TSFDs): Females Adolescents' Eating Motives, Constraints and Behaviours During the School Day. [Details] |
| 2004 |
Buying Processes in a Dynamic Sector: A Case Study of Food Purchasing in the Hotel Sector in Ireland . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Omta, P.J.P eds O'Connell S., Henchion M. and Colllins A (2004) Buying Processes in a Dynamic Sector: A Case Study of Food Purchasing in the Hotel Sector in Ireland . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Omta, P.J.P eds. [Details] |
| 2004 |
Retail power and manufacturers' core competencies in production. Retailing and Producer-Retailer Relationships in the Food Chain Collins, A (2004) Retail power and manufacturers' core competencies in production. Retailing and Producer-Retailer Relationships in the Food Chain. [Details] |
| 2003 |
The determinants of retailers' power over manufacturers' product-related activities. Food Quality Products in the Advent of the 21st Century: Production, Demand and Public Policy Collins, A (2003) The determinants of retailers' power over manufacturers' product-related activities. Food Quality Products in the Advent of the 21st Century: Production, Demand and Public Policy. [Details] |
| 2002 |
The organisation of retailer-manufacturer relationships . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Omta, P.J.P eds Collins, A (2002) The organisation of retailer-manufacturer relationships . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Omta, P.J.P eds. [Details] |
| 2002 |
The organisation of retailer-manufacturer relationships . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Omta, P.J.P eds Collins, A (2002) The organisation of retailer-manufacturer relationships . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Omta, P.J.P eds. [Details] |
| 2000 |
The determinants of retailers' product monitoring activities within private label trading relationships . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Zuurbier, P.J.P eds Collins, A. and Burt, S.L (2000) The determinants of retailers' product monitoring activities within private label trading relationships . In: Trienekens, J.H. and Zuurbier, P.J.P eds. [Details] |
| 1998 |
The Hidden Costs of Efficient Replenishment Collins, A., Henchion, M. and O'Reilly, P (1998) The Hidden Costs of Efficient Replenishment. [Details] |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication |
|---|---|
| 2007 |
L'interdiction de la vente a perte et sa suppression. L'experience Irlandaise. [Oral Presentation] Collins, A (2007) L'interdiction de la vente a perte et sa suppression. L'experience Irlandaise. [Oral Presentation]. [Details] |
| 2007 |
Winning Stores and Market Success. [Oral Presentation] Collins, A (2007) Winning Stores and Market Success. [Oral Presentation]. [Details] |
| 2006 |
Channel Blurring and Innovation: the Impact on Pharmacies. [Oral Presentation] Collins, A (2006) Channel Blurring and Innovation: the Impact on Pharmacies. [Oral Presentation]. [Details] |
| 2005 |
Winning Stores and Market Challenges. [Oral Presentation] Collins, A (2005) Winning Stores and Market Challenges. [Oral Presentation]. [Details] |
| 2005 |
Teenagers' Eating Motives and the consumption of Top Shelf Foods. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures] Collins, A (2005) Teenagers' Eating Motives and the consumption of Top Shelf Foods. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures]. [Details] |
| 1995 |
*. [N/A] Keane, Michael; Collins, Alan (1995) *. [N/A]. [Details] |
| 2014 |
Time, Money and the Product Selection Decision . [Peer Reviewed Abstract] Collins, A., Cronin, J., Burt, S., and George, R (2014) Time, Money and the Product Selection Decision . [Peer Reviewed Abstract]. [Details] |
| 2012 |
Price Search in the Grocery Market. [Oral Presentation] Collins, A., Kavanagh, E., Cronin, J., and R. George (2012) Price Search in the Grocery Market. [Oral Presentation]. [Details] |