Retailers, Frontiers of Innovation and Local Legislative Constraints

The role of retail has deeply changed over the last years. Today, large scale retailers are no longer perceived as mere sellers of products. A modern, advanced retailer, must be able to innovate and enrich the value of the offer throughout its network, integrating more and more goods and services under an umbrella brand that increases distinctiveness and loyalty. In order to do so, it is necessary to have an entrepreneurial ability oriented towards evolution of demand, a socially-focused company mission, but also a legislative landscape that allows for this innovation process.Large-Scale Retail in Europe; Large-Scale Retail in Italy; Global Markets; Supply Chain; Corporate Responsibility; The Coop Italia Case; Coop Private Label; Socially Responsible Behaviour; Ethical Category Management

Retailers and SME suppliers social responsibility in international supply chains

This paper presents an overview of corporate social responsibility drivers within international supply chains, following a multiple perspective of the different players involved. The study focused on the relationship between European large retailers and small-medium manufacturers in the food sector. In particular, the effects of the retailers’ CSR initiatives on the supply chains in which small suppliers are involved were examinedCSR, Supply Chain, Retailing, SMEs

Corporate Governance And Sustainability In Italian Large-Scale Retail Companies

The growing complexity of today’s business systems due to the economic globalization has led to a substantial modification of current corporate governance principles and approaches. In particular, the application of good corporate governance principles has increasingly required a clear focus on sustainability, which minimizes risks and, at the same time, ensures a positive outlook for the future of the company itself. Through the analysis of corporate governance systems, this study deepens the link between corporate governance and sustainability in retail companies, with particular emphasis on the Italian grocery retail system. The study highlights that innovation and process efficiency, promoted and implemented by a governance that values fairness and transparency, allow retail companies to obtain consensus and resources, thereby triggering a virtuous circle of sustainable business development

Food poverty, food waste and the consensus frame on charitable food redistribution in Italy

Food poverty and food waste are two major contemporary food system problems, which have (re)gained prominence amongst both scholars and policy-makers, due to recent economic and environmental concerns. In this context, the culturally dominant perspective portrays charitable food redistribution as a “win–win solution” to confront food poverty and food waste in affluent societies, although this view is contested by many scholars. This paper applies the notions of framings and flat/sharp keyings to unpack the different narratives entailed by public discourses on food waste and food poverty in Italy. The aim is to problematize the representation of the recent anti-waste/pro-donations law as the optimal policy measure to effectively rectify both food poverty and food waste. The paper argues that the widespread public support for the law reflects the interpretation of charitable food redistribution as a consensus frame, standing for the convergence between flat positions and is reinforced by confusion on terms and responsibilities. Indeed, the strength of the law lies in the capacity to reconcile different positions and bring actors together around a short-term objective, whose foundations have deep roots in the common ethics. However, if the debate is to be moved forward, trade-offs between different framings of problems at stake should be explicitly navigated when designing policy instruments

Policy Brief: Is Italian Agriculture a "Pull Factor" for Irregular Migration -- And, If So, Why?

In discussions on irregular migration in Europe, undeclared work is generally viewed as a "pull factor"—positive aspects of a destination-country that attract an individual or group to leave their home—for both employers as well as prospective migrants, and especially in sectors such as agriculture. A closer examination of the agricultural model, however, reveals that structural forces are driving demand for work and incentivizing exploitation. This is particularly evident in Southern Italy, a region famous for its produce, where both civil society organizations and the media have documented exploitation of migrant workers. A closer examination of EU and member states efforts to avoid exploitation is needed.In Is Italian Agriculture a 'Pull Factor' for Irregular Migration—and, If So, Why?, a new study, authors from the Open Society Foundations' European Policy Institute and the European University Institute look at how Europe's Common Agricultural Policy, the practices of supermarket chains, organized crime, and gang-master recruitment practices contribute to migrant exploitation. The study further recommends a closer examination of EU member state efforts to counter exploitation and offers an overview of private sector practice's intended to combat exploitation—such as the provision of information on workers' rights, adequate housing and transport, and EU-wide labeling schemes, among others

Consumer Co-operatives and Retail Internationalisation: problems and prospects

Purpose – Explores the retail internationalisation activities of consumer co-operatives. Findings – A survey of the available information on these internationalisation activities shows that they have been restricted to a relatively small number of co-operatives and that the ‘failure’ rate has been very high. Some suggestions are made as to why the co-operatives have been unable to convert their early-mover advantages into sustainable retail networks. Research limitations – The restricted nature of the sample means that these exploratory findings are primarily descriptive. Further, in-depth work with a sample of these co-operatives would help us to better understand the reasons for the moves into and out of various international activities. Practical Implications – Expands the literature on retail failure in general and also provides some more depth to the literature on the internationalisation of co-operatives. Originality/ Value – Whilst there have been significant volumes of research into the internationalisation of investor-owned retailers and of producer co-operatives, particularly the ‘new generation’ co-operatives, there has been very little prior work undertaken in this area

Caused Related Marketing: Between Solidarity and Competition within the Italian Agri-Food System

Todays consumers demand products and services not only with proven intrinsic quality features but also endowed with non-material attributes such as respect for the environmental and ethical values. These concerns are central to recent marketing developments. Cause related marketing (CRM) is a good example of the new entrepreneurial strategies able to achieve on the one hand utilitarian aims and on the other hand to contribute to a social cause through different forms of company donation. From the analysis it emerges that in Italian agri-food system three types of agents are applying CRM: companies producing widely consumed brands, with high sales volume; small companies producing high quality goods but with brands known within a limited market area; mass distribution companies. The use and aims of CRM strategies are different for each of the actors.cause related marketing, agri-food system, Agribusiness, M31,