Challenge to SME to Survive in Food Dynamic Markets: Innovation and Efficient Networks

The EU food entrepreneurs are facing dramatic changes in the competition arena. Globalization and liberalization processes are offering cheaper food products in international markets, either from countries with better comparative advantages or with more efficient marketing strategies. At the same time, food markets are in a process of continuous segmentation and changes. Consumers are located in different niches, according to socio-demographic variables, cultures and traditions. Some of them respond to price changes while others are more concerned with quality control and food safety. It is on this segment where typical products, traceability and denominations of origin have significant values. SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) have to survive on this competitive scenario using several strategies: focusing their attention on specific consumer segments (aged people, gourmets or ethnic groups), products (typical, denomination of origin) or with more personal attention. Their flexibility to adapt the production process should compensate the lack of economic and human resources and specialization activities. In the 21st century they may survive through adequate strategies, most of them based on several pillars: innovation, tradition and adequate network.Agribusiness, Industrial Organization, Marketing,

Fish Chain Performance in Madrid Market: An Empirical Analysis

Food chain analysis is becoming a useful instrument to increase efficiency. We focus the attention in the fish sector looking at the links from consumer to wholesalers in the region of Madrid. In order to get adequate information we developed face to face enquiries to the consumers, retailers and wholesalers. The analysis of the Madrid market give us a useful approach of the national and international sector, due to the fact that Mercamadrid is the biggest fish wholesale market in Europe, and the consumption in Madrid is representative in many ways of the Spanish market. Finally there are some conclusions and recommendations oriented toward the stakeholders.Fish, food chain, performance, competition, Agribusiness,

Demand for Organic Milk Products in Portugal

Milk consumption patterns are changing in Portugal. Factors like convenience, quality and safety increasingly constitute the basis for the Portuguese consumer purchasing decision. Demand for organic milk products (OMP) is emerging while most of these products are supplied by foreign companies. This study explores the demand for OMP in Portugal using both direct market observation and multivariate methods, in particular factor and cluster analysis. It appears that there are specific emerging segments preferring OMP, as they are increasingly concerned by health attributes and environmental protection.Organic milk consumption, market segmentation, Portugal, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Quality Management and Improvement in the Spanish SME Food Industry: The Adoption of ISO 9000

This paper presents the results of a large-scale study in the Spanish F&DI aimed to identify the motivators, perceived costs, and benefits of implementing ISO 9000 standards. Results indicate the increasing importance of ISO 9000 standards as a strategic tool in the Spanish F&DI with an increasing number of F&D companies seeking ISO 9000 certification. Despite being a recent strategic option among Spanish F&D companies latest figures show a total of 1,754 firms being ISO 9000 certified (a significant increased from a total of 4 firms in 1993)ISO 9000 certification, food industry, Spain, performance, Agribusiness,

Meat safety as a tool of differentiation for retailers: Spanish and French examples of meat "supply chain brands"

The purpose of this article is to analyse how the health crises have contributed to increasing the segmentation of the supply of fresh and little-processed food products under the impetus of a reinforcement of regulations (affecting the supply chain as a whole) and of strategies adopted by the stakeholders. Indeed, since several food crises have strongly affected the production of animal food products, food safety has become one of the most important aspects of quality products for both consumers and retailers. The authors carry out an empirical and comparative analysis of the reactions of two neighbouring countries (Spain and France) faced with major health crises caused by similar events: the emergence of BSE cases. A special focus is made on the initiatives taken privately by two French retail groups (Carrefour and Auchan) operating in both countries. The analysis shows that retailers have developed systems of quality insurance developed in order to reduce uncertainty and to restore consumers’ confidence in the quality of the products they buy. These programmes of actions pave the way for policies of product differentiation. In a relatively different context from that of France, the two big French retail groups Carrefour and Auchan operating in Spain have developed similar approaches, which had not been the case in France. The paper provide useful keys for a better understanding of the strategies of retailers (use of "supply chain brands" as tools of differentiation to ensure consumers’ loyalty, marketing communication) in a context of sharp competition and of relative dissatisfaction with respect to «minimum quality» standards. \u

HABIT FORMATION AND DEMAND SYSTEM ESTIMATES FOR FLUID MILK IN SPAIN

Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Impact of agricultural trade liberalization between the EU and Mediterranean countries: the case of the tomato processing industry

This study aims to describe and explain the impact of trade liberalization between the EU- 15 and the southern Mediterranean countries, with special emphasis on Southern EU (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece). The selected activity to be studied is the processing tomato industry. To do that, we use three related approaches (systems, industrial economics and management tools). After describing the tomato processing system, we introduce three case studies: Copador (member of CIO) located in Parma, Louis Martin SA nearby Avignon and Alsat SL located in Don Benito (Extremadura). Some conclusions: the EU processing tomato industry will continue and probably expand its activities on the Mediterranean borders; the competition between Italy and Spain will increase; the southern part of France risks losing its first - level processing activities; specialization of work within the European space will intensify, with the southern part specializing in raw materials and the northern part in high value added products; Greek and Portuguese activities will carry on. Three main reasons can be advanced: the raw materials have to meet some very rigorous standards; some activities (manufacturing of tomato paste) are highly mechanized and, second and third level finished products which are evolving very quickly (packaging, recipes and process techniques) require good logistics and flexible services.EU, Mediterranean countries, trade liberalization, tomato products, commodity system, case studies (Copador, Louis Martin, Alsat), International Relations/Trade,

La cadena de valor alimentaria: un enfoque metodológico

Los mercados alimentarios vienen experimentando fuertes convulsiones, lo que ocasiona serios problemas y, consecuentemente, una presión social para el logro de soluciones. La mejora de la transparencia y competitividad en el canal agricultor-consumidor estimula la realización de estudios objetivos que permitan hacer un buen diagnóstico y mejorar la situación. El trabajo describe una aproximación metodológica en base a la cadena de valor alimentaria y las relaciones funcionales entre los diversos eslabones. Dentro de los métodos de análisis, se hace especial énfasis en la organización sectorial (estructura, conducta y funcionamiento) y en el análisis de competitividad, proponiéndose algunas acciones a desarrollar

Funcionamiento y transparencia en la cadena de valor: Aplicación al caso del aceite de oliva en España

El trabajo plantea un análisis del sector de aceite de oliva español, apoyándose en la metodología de cadena de valor, con especial énfasis en el funcionamiento y transparencia. Se hace una descripción de los aspectos más significativos genéricos al sistema alimentario, destacando la incidencia del proceso innovador y de la interacción transparencia eficiencia. Como resultado se exponen las características y problemática del funcionamiento de dicha cadena de valor. En los diversos apartados analizados, unido a la exposición teórica, se hacen referencias específicas a la cadena de valor de aceite de oliva en España y en ocasiones del caso específico andaluz. Con ello se intenta crear un marco de análisis utilizado en ciertos ámbitos euroamericanos con una visión práctica al sector del aceit

Consumo y Seguridad Alimentaria. Evolución y Tendencias.

La interacción entre consumo y seguridad alimentaria es uno de los hechos históricos que más vienen preocupando a la Humanidad, por cuestión de supervivencia. La especie humana tiene en la alimentación una necesidad básica de disponibilidad (seguridad de abastecimiento) e inocuidad de los productos (seguridad sanitaria), lo que constituye el binomio estratégico de toda Política Alimentaria