Is food advertising culture-bound? Contradictory results from three European countries

The objective of this study was to examine the proposition frequently noted in the extant literature that food advertising is culture-bound. Print advertisements for food, from Poland, Ireland and England, were content-analysed using Pollay's (1983) value appeals, linked to GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) dimensions. Data analysis revealed that there were both differences and similarities in value appeals usage; however, these variations could not be related to, or explained with, cultural dimensions. These results contradict the proposition that food advertising is one of the most culture-bound forms of advertising. They suggest that advertisers seldom use culturally congruent appeals in food advertisements. Further research is needed to determine how these differences and similarities may be explained.