Although drone-based food delivery has gained attention as a sustainable last-mile solution, limited research has examined consumer adoption using an integrated theoretical and methodological lens. To address this gap, this study aims to investigate the key factors influencing consumers' intention to adopt “drone food delivery services” (DFDS) by integrating the “Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2” and the “theory of consumption values”, while incorporating psychological traits such as environmental innovativeness and risk aversion.
Using survey data from 353 respondents, this study applies a hybrid analytical approach that combines “partial least squares structural equation modeling”, “artificial neural networks”, and “necessary condition analysis” to capture linear, non-linear, and necessary conditions influencing adoption behavior.
The results reveal that functional, emotional, social, epistemic and environmental values significantly influence consumers' intention to use DFDS. Environmental value emerged as the strongest predictor across all three analytical methods and was also identified as a necessary condition. Moreover, environmental innovativeness positively moderated the link between functional value and intention, whereas risk aversion did not significantly alter any of the value-intention relationships.
This study contributes to the food service and sustainable food delivery literature by offering an integrative and context-specific theoretical model for DFDS adoption, while also extending understanding of technology-enabled last-mile delivery. Grounded in both technology acceptance and value-based theories, the study advances the field methodologically through a hybrid analytical framework that captures linear, non-linear, and necessary relationships. The findings provide actionable insights for service providers, platform designers, and policymakers seeking to support the adoption of sustainable and consumer-aligned food delivery innovations.
