Emotional Branding and Consumer Well-Being in Experiential Culinary Retail

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v25i2.51183

Keywords:

brand love, brand engagement, customer delight, psychological well-being, S-O-R framework

Abstract

Research Originality: This study contributes to the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) literature by proposing and testing an integrated model that examines how overall brand equity and customer delight translate brand love and experiential brand engagement into consumer psychological well-being.

Research Objectives: This study investigates the effects of brand love and experiential brand engagement on overall brand equity, customer delight, and consumer psychological well-being.

Research Method: A quantitative survey was conducted with 125 consumers of Indonesian local culinary brands. The proposed model was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Empirical Results: Brand love and experiential brand engagement significantly enhance overall brand equity and customer delight. Customer delight emerged as the strongest predictor of psychological well-being, whereas brand love and experiential brand engagement did not directly and significantly affect psychological well-being. These findings indicate that positive and memorable consumption experiences contribute more strongly to consumer well-being than emotional attachment alone.

Implications: Managers should prioritize delight-generating experiences through engaging interactions, memorable service encounters, and experiential value creation to strengthen both consumer psychological well-being and brand equity.

JEL Classification: M31, I31, L81

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aarabe, M., Bouizgar, M., Khizzou, N. Ben, & Alla, L. (2026). Experiential Marketing in Tourism: A Systematic Review of Paradigms, Mechanisms and Experiential Outcomes. Cogent Business & Management, 13(1), 2658263. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2026.2658263.

Abdul, S., Khan, R., Sheikh, A. A., Ashraf, M., & Yu, Z. (2022). Improving Consumer-Based Green Brand Equity : The Role of Healthy Green Practices, Green Brand Attachment, and Green Skepticism. Sustainability, 14(19), 11829. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911829.

Al-kilani, S., & Hedhli, K. El. (2021). How Do Restaurant Atmospherics Influence Restaurant Authenticity ? An Integrative Framework and Empirical Evidence. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 63, 102729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102729.

Alshreef, M. A., Hassan, T. H., Helal, M. Y., Saleh, M. I., Tatiana, P., Alrefae, W. M., Elshawarbi, N. N., Al-saify, H. N., Salem, A. E., & Elsayed, M. A. S. (2023). Analyzing the Influence of eWOM on Customer Perception of Value and Brand Love in Hospitality Enterprise. Sustainability, 15(9), 7286. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097286.

Attiq, S., Abdul Hamid, A. B., Khokhar, M. N., Shah, H. J., & Shahzad, A. (2022). “Wow! It’s Cool”: How Brand Coolness Affects the Customer Psychological Well-Being Through Brand Love and Brand Engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923870.

Bagaskara, R., & Marsasi, E. G. (2023). The Effect of Self-Congruity and Trust Toward Brand Loyalty Based on Image Congruity Theory. Indonesian Journal of Economics and Management, 3(2), 231–244. https://doi.org/10.35313/ijem.v3i2.4726.

Barnes, D. C., Mesmer-Magnus, J., Scribner, L. L., Krallman, A., & Guidice, R. M. (2020). Customer Delight During A Crisis: Understanding Delight Through The Lens of Transformative Service Research. Journal of Service Management, 32(1), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-05-2020-0146.

Chua, B.-L., Kim, S. (Sam), Baah, N. G., Moon, H., Yu, J., & Han, H. (2024). When Hospitality Brands Go Green: The Role of Authenticity and Stereotypes in Building Customer-Green Brand Relationships. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 32(6), 1118–1141. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2203406.

Das, G., & Varshneya, G. (2017). Consumer Emotions : Determinants and Outcomes In A Shopping Mall. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 38, 177–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.06.008.

Elshaer, I. A., Azazz, A. M. S., Fayyad, S., Mohamed, S. A., Fouad, A. M., & Fathy, E. A. (2025). From Data to Delight: Leveraging Social Customer Relationship Management to Elevate Customer Satisfaction and Market Effectiveness. Information, 16(1), 9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/info16010009.

Guzmán Valle, M. de los Á., Arbulú Ballesteros, M. A., Guzmán Valle, C. A., Montes Ninaquispe, J. C., Pantaleón Santa María, A. L., Ruiz Chacón, S. V., Lamadrid Aldana, M., & Castro Muñoz, W. T. (2024). Potential Impact of Sustainable Business Practices: Brand Equity in Fast Food and Millennials’ Purchase Intentions. Sustainability, 16(9), 3768. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093768.

Hasni, M., Junaid, S., Lucia, M. Della, Santini, E., & Sacchetti, S. (2026). Transformative Service Research for Human Well-Being: Contextual Challenges, Place-Based Framework and SDGs. Journal of Service Marketing, 10, 181–200. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-01-2025-0001.

Hollebeek, L. D., & Macky, K. (2023). Digital Content Marketing’s Role in Fostering Consumer Engagement, Trust, and Value: Framework, Fundamental Propositions, and Implications. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 45, 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intmar.2018.07.003.

Huang, Y., & Chen, C. H. (2026). Sustainable Community Marketing for Probabilistic Goods: The Paradox of Brand Love and Jealousy in a Dual Emotional Engagement Model. Sustainability, 18(2), 560. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020560.

Huang, Z., & Yan, X. (2024). How Social Presence Influences Consumer Well-Being in Live Video Commerce: The Mediating Role of Shopping Enjoyment and the Moderating Role of Familiarity. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 19(2), 725–742. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer19020039.

Jiang, Y. (2019). A Cognitive Appraisal Process of Customer Delight : The Moderating Effect of Place Identity. Journal of Travel Research, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287519872827.

Jeon, H. M., Yoo, S. R., & Kim, S. H. (2020). The Relationships among Experience, Delight, and Recollection for Revisit Intention in Chocolate Exposition. Sustainability, 12(2), 8644. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208644.

Jr, J. F. H., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., Black, W. C., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate Data Analysis (8th ed.). New York: Annabel Ainscow.

Kiatkawsin, K., & Sutherland, I. (2020). Examining Luxury Restaurant Dining Experience towards Sustainable Reputation of the Michelin Restaurant Guide. Sustainability, 12(5), 2134. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su12052134.

Kim, Y. J., & Park, J. S. (2021). Experiential Value, Satisfaction, Brand Love, and Brand Loyalty toward Robot Barista Coffee Shop: The Moderating Effect of Generation. Sustainability, 13(21), 12029. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112029.

Ko, J., & Jeon, H. (2024). The Impact of Eco-Friendly Practices on Generation Z’s Green Image, Brand Attachment, Brand Advocacy, and Brand Loyalty in a Coffee Shop. Sustainability, 16(8), 3126. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083126.

Kulikovskaja, V., Hubert, M., Grunert, K. G., & Zhao, H. (2023). Driving Marketing Outcomes Through Social Media-Based Customer Engagement. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 74, 103445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103445.

Laradi, S., Berber, N., & Rehman, H. M. (2023). Unlocking the Power of Social Media Marketing: Investigating The Role of Posting, Interaction, and Monitoring Capabilities in Building Brand Equity. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3), 2273601. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2273601.

Leite, Â., & Rodrigues, A. (2024). Customer Connections: A Cross-Cultural Investigation of Brand Experience and Brand Love in the Retail Landscape. Administrative Sciences, 14(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14010011.

Lin, K., Du, W., Yang, S., Liu, C., & Na, S. (2023). The Effects of Social Media Communication and e-WOM on Brand Equity : The Moderating Roles of Product Involvement. Sustainability, 15(8), 6424.. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086424.

Mahmudur, S., Carlson, J., Gudergan, S. P., Wetzels, M., & Grewal, D. (2025). How Do Omnichannel Customer Experiences Affect Customer Engagement? Theory and Empirical Validation. Journal of Business Research, 189, 115196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115196.

Manhas, P. S., Sharma, P., & Quintela, J. A. (2024). Product Innovation and Customer Experience : Catalysts for Enhancing Satisfaction in Quick Service Restaurants. Tourism and Hospitality, 5(3), 559–576. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp5030034.

Marsasi, E. G., Rizan, M., Barqiah, S., & Gusti, Y. K. (2024). Customer Self-Congruity and Brand Image on Purchase Decision: The Role of Gender and Age As Control Variables. Media Ekonomi dan Manajemen, 39(2), 199–214. https://doi.org/10.56444/mem.v39i2.4541.

Marsasi, E. G., & Barqiah, S. (2023). The Role of Gender, Age, and Educational Groups in Utilitarian Motivation for Sharia Products. Indonesian Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 9(1), 104–117. https://doi.org/10.17358/IJBE.9.1.104.

Mohd, N., Fauzi, B., Rahman, H. M. M., Mohd, J. B., & Pervez, N. (2026). Exploring the Impact of Customer Experience Quality on Brand Love in a Private Higher Learning Institution: Service Quality As a Moderating Factor. Cogent Business & Management, 13(1), 2653920. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2026.2653920.

Na, M., Rong, L., Ali, M. H., Alam, S. S., & Masukujjaman, M. (2023). The Mediating Role of Brand Trust and Brand Love between Brand Experience and Loyalty : A Study on Smartphones in China. Behavioral Sciences, 13(6), 502. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13060502.

Nawaz, S., Jiang, Y., Alam, F., & Nawaz, M. Z. (2020). Role of Brand Love and Consumers’ Demographics in Building Consumer-Brand Relationship. Sage Open, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020983005

Ng, A. H. (2025). Loneliness Enhances Brand Love for Individualistic (But Not Collectivistic) Consumers. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1586472. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1586472.

Panduro-Ramirez, J. A., Gallegos-Reyes, M. A., Villar-Guevara, M., García-Salirrosas, E. E., & Fernández-Mallma, I. (2024). The Role of Relationship Marketing and Brand Love Among Banking Consumers in an Emerging Market Context. Administrative Sciences, 14(12), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14120343

Park, J., Park, Y., & Yu, J. (2026). Can Multiple Attributes of Vegan Restaurants Affect Behavioral Intentions by Customer Psychological Factors ? Multiple Attributes of Vegan Restaurants. Frontiers in Nutrition Sec. Nutrition and Sustainable Diets. 9(June 2022), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.902498

Pereira, D., Silva, J., & Casais, B. (2024). Consumer Brand Engagement Fostered by Cause- Related Marketing in Emotional and Functional Brands Consumer Brand Engagement Fostered by Cause-Related Marketing in Emotional and Functional Brands. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 36(5), 685–712. https://doi.org/10.1080/10495142.2024.2329258

Phan Nguyen Anh, Q., Hoang, L., & Nguyen Van, D. (2025). Augmented Reality (AR) Marketing, Customer Experiences and Customer Delight in Soft Drinks: An Empirical Study. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 38(4), 1044-1060. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-02-2025-0199.

Qi, M., Abdullah, Z., Nujaimi, S., & Rahman, A. (2024). Navigating the Digital Landscape: Evaluating the Impacts of Digital IMC on Building and Maintaining Destination Brand Equity. Sustainability, 16(2), 891. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1620891.

Rivera, D. E., Casades, M., Alexandre, P., Ara, C., & Villar, A. S. (2019). Exploring the Role of Service Delivery in Remarkable Tourism Experiences. Sustainability, 11(5), 1382. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051382.

Salilul, H., Shahriar, A., & Todd, M. (2020). Impact of Patient Portal Behavioral Engagement on Subsistence Consumers’ Well-Being. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 38(2), 501-517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijresmar.2020.09.003

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2020). Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach (8th ed.). New York: Wiley.

Selmi, N., Soliman, M., Dliya'ul Haq, M., & Mesana, J. C. B. (2025). Unlocking the Drivers of Brand Evangelism in the Hospitality Sector: A Mediated-Moderated Model of Emotional Brand Bonding and Surprise. Tourism and Hospitality Research, In-press. https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584251356831.

Seyfi, S., Vo-Thanh, T., & Zaman, M. (2024). Hospitality in the Age of Gen Z: A Critical Reflection on Evolving Customer and Workforce Expectations. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 36(13), 118–134. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-01-2024-0035.

Souza, Y. De, Enes, O., Demo, G., & Porto, R. B. (2024). What Is Next for Consumer-Based Brand Equity in Digital Brands ? Research Itineraries and New Challenges. Sustainability, 16(13), 5412. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135412.

Shava, H. (2024). Unlocking Customer Happiness and Enhancing Quality of Life: The Potential of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise ICT Initiatives in Stress-Inducing Environments. Sustainability, 16(19), 8609. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198609.

Shen, Y., Huang, S., Choi, H. C., & Morrison, A. M. (2021). Does Brand Love Matter to Casual Restaurants ? A Multi-Group Path Analysis. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 30(5), 630–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2021.1867282.

Singh, G., Roy, S. K., Apostolidis, C., & Quaddus, M. (2025). Identifying the Metaverse Value Recipe(s) Affecting Customer Engagement and Well-Being in Retailing. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 210, 123870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123870.

Sohaib, M., Mlynarski, J., & Wu, R. (2023). Building Brand Equity: The Impact of Brand Experience, Brand Love, and Brand Engagement: A Case Study of Customers’ Perception of the Apple Brand in China. Sustainability, 15(1), 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010746.

Spence, C., Youssef, J., & Levitan, C. A. (2021). Delivering the Multisensory Experience of Dining-Out, for Those Dining-In, During the Covid Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 683569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683569.

Tang, J., Wang, J., Zhang, M., & Huang, W. (2023). How Destination Brand Experience Influences Tourist Citizenship Behavior: Testing Mediation of Brand Relationship Quality and Moderation Effects On Commitment. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1080457. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1080457.

Taufikkur, M., Afandi, R., & Marsasi, E. G. (2023). Fast Food Industry Investigation: The Role of Brand Attitude and Brand Loyalty on Purchase Intentions among Generation Z based on the Theory of Reasoned Action. Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 5(2), 206–220. https://doi.org/10.54268/baskara.v5i2.16005.

Truc, H., Jenny, D., Le, T. H., Jenny, D., Nimri, R., & Quach, S. (2024). Re-Imagining Delightful Experiences in “New Normal” Conditions: A Systematic Critical Review and Future Research Agenda. Current Issues in Tourism, 120, 103781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2024.103781.

Tu, J., Cui, Y., & Liu, L. (2024). Perceived Greenwashing and Its Impact on the Green Image of Brands. Sustainability, 16(2), 9009. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16209009.

Tsou, H., Hou, C., Chen, J., & Ngo, M. (2022). Rethinking Sustainability Hotel Branding : The Pathways from Hotel Services to Brand Engagement. Sustainability, 14(16), 10138. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610138.

Uludag, O., Andrlić, B., & Omoruyi, D. (2024). The Role of Green Consumer Brand Engagement in Shaping Brand Loyalty Through Digital Marketing in the Hotel Industry. Sustainability, 16(23), 10410. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310410.

Uslu, A., & Tosun, P. (2024). Tourist Personality, Value Co-Creation, and Emotional Well-Being. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 48(1), e12995. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12995.

Wang, X., Qi, J., & Zhang, K. (2024). The Joy of Eating: How Eating Experiences Enhance The Well-Being of Older Adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1438964. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1438964.

Weingarten, E., & Goodman, J. K. (2020). Re-examining the Experiential Advantage in Consumption: A Meta-Analysis and Review. Journal of Consumer Research, 47(6), 855–877. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucaa047.

Yang, S., Liu, Y., & Xu, L. (2024). The Effect of Food Tourism Experiences on Tourists’ Subjective. Heliyon, 10(3), e25482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25482.

Yuanita, A. D., & Marsasi, E. G. (2022). The Effect of Brand Attachment, Brand Experience, and Self-Image Congruence on The Purchase Intention of a Luxury Brand. Jurnal Ekonomi Bisnis dan Kewirausahaan (JEBIK), 11(3), 292–310. https://doi.org/10.26418/jebik.v11i3.57542.

Zhao, Y., & Tsubaki, M. (2025). An Algorithmic Marketing Approach to Analyzing Consumer Well-Being: Incorporating Psychological Factors in Customer Loyalty. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 84, 104238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104238.

Published

2026-09-14

How to Cite

Emotional Branding and Consumer Well-Being in Experiential Culinary Retail. (2026). ETIKONOMI, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v25i2.51183