About the Project Data
Of the 3 supermarkets where I collected data on packaged rice, I view Metro supermarket as a representative mainstream food business, T&T as a hybrid Chinese-mainstream one, and FoodyMart as a Chinese one. I found it interesting that the Metro supermarket had the most variety of rice in small packages in their ‘ethnic’ aisles than did Foody or T&T. Foody had a much bigger selection of rice in big bulk bags than the other.
The Interviews insight
I interviewed 4 subjects for my primary data. Their names have been changed for the purpose of this project. On the maps you can see their work places, their home locations, and information on the supermarkets where they shop. You will also see the types of rice they like to buy.
In most of my interviews, I have found that buying rice has no specific time schedule, but people take care to replace a bag before it is finished. My interviews show that price and whether an item is on sale plays a key role to determine what brand or type the consumer buys. There is also a correlation between types of rice used different types of meals. A Cantonese consumer from Hong Kong talks of eating white long grain jasmine rice, where one from mainland China preferred round short grain white rice. Rice preference and purchases can also be based on personal choices, that are influenced by culture well as economic reasoning. For instance, a couple of my subjects preferred to shop at Foody because they felt comfortable there and believed that it had the lowest prices, even if it was farther off from their homes.
In most of my interviews, I have found that buying rice has no specific time schedule, but people take care to replace a bag before it is finished. My interviews show that price and whether an item is on sale plays a key role to determine what brand or type the consumer buys. There is also a correlation between types of rice used different types of meals. A Cantonese consumer from Hong Kong talks of eating white long grain jasmine rice, where one from mainland China preferred round short grain white rice. Rice preference and purchases can also be based on personal choices, that are influenced by culture well as economic reasoning. For instance, a couple of my subjects preferred to shop at Foody because they felt comfortable there and believed that it had the lowest prices, even if it was farther off from their homes.
Map of perspective
This is an interactive map that marks locations of homes, work-places or schools, and the supermarkets they frequent, based on interview data. Please click on the map icons for details.
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There is 4 different unique Icons.
- The shopping basket for the supermarkets. - The yellow house for residence. - The pillared tower as work place. - Then Orange school with Flag. |