The Practice of Shopping Discounted Near-Expiry Food in Retail Stores Across Sweden

Sammanfattning

Grocery shopping is an essential and regular part of everyday life, and retail stores across Sweden have sought to reduce the risk of near‑expiry food becoming waste by selling these products at discounted prices. Discounted near‑expiry food is particularly interesting because it is often perceived as risky, yet also offers consumers a way to shop more ethically by saving food and money. While previous research has examined what motivates consumers to buy such products, less attention has been paid to the practice of shopping for them in the store. This master’s thesis explores the practice of shopping for discounted near-expiry food in retail stores across Sweden, focusing on the in-store shopping environment, consumers’ knowledge and skills, and the meanings and values involved. Using a qualitative approach, the research is based primarily on 19 semi-structured interviews, complemented by in-store observations and virtual ethnography. The analysis is grounded in practice theory as developed by Shove et al. (2012), Reckwitz (2002) and Warde (2005). It also draws on Warde (2014) processual understanding of consumption and Gregson et al. (2002) perspective on shopping as a spatial practice.