Linking Brand Experience and Brand Love to Word-of-Mouth in Food Retail

Abstract

Brand love is associated with consumer behavior that affects organizational performance. This article examines the relationship between brand experience and brand love and between brand love and positive word-of-mouth among Portuguese consumers in the context of the international food retail chain LIDL. Specifically, it analyzes how brand experience contributes to consumers' love for the LIDL brand and how this affects positive word-of-mouth. First, a narrative review of the literature on brand experience, brand love, and positive word-of-mouth is presented, followed by a quantitative study based on a sample of 1,049 Portuguese LIDL customers. Data were processed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlations, structural equation modeling and tests of differences. The results show significant positive associations between brand experience and brand love, and positive word-of-mouth, as well as significant differences in gender, generation, and occupational groups. However, the mediating role of brand love between brand experience and word-of-mouth is not significant. With a view to boosting positive word-of-mouth, marketers should manage the experience consumers have in-store and enhance both hedonic and utilitarian values