Quality food products sector development in the NMS: The supply and demand aspect from Slovenia

Food quality labels, Consumer attitudes, Production, Barriers to entry, Slovenia, Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis,

The Impact of CAP and EU Cohesion Support on Growth and Convergence of the Eastern Slovenia Region in the Period 2007-2013

The paper investigates economic performance of the Eastern Slovenia region in the changed economic and policy environment after the accession to the EU. The likely impacts of public expenditure in the field of cohesion and agricultural policy in the period of the Community financial perspective 2007-2013 are analysed by the regional InputOutput model estimated with modified GRIT methodology. Results of the impact analysis carried out by application of various policy scenarios suggest that: (i) the analysed funds can significantly contribute to the overall output growth of the regional economy; (ii) EU budgetary inflows contribute to economic convergence of the region; (iii) differences between the projected impacts primarily depend on the regional division of Slovenia at the NUTS 2 level; (iv) favourable prospects can be impaired by various limiting factors. Concerning the impacts of CAP expenditure, the paper argues against the popular opinion about its low redistributive and short-term effects.regional input-output model, Slovenia, Common Agricultural Policy, EU cohesion policy, International Relations/Trade, R11, R15, R58, Q18,

Determinants of purchasing behaviour for organic and integrated fruits and vegetables in Slovenia

A country-vide survey related to purchasing behaviour of organic and integrated fruit and vegetables has been prepared for Slovenia. An ordered probit model of consumer choice was developed on the basis of survey results to quantify various determinants of purchase frequency for organically and integrally produced fruit and vegetables. Results show that purchase of analysed produce is most significantly influenced by their availability in retail outlets, followed by consumers’ income, health and environmental considerations, and visual attractiveness of products. Demand for organically and integrally produced fruit and vegetables could be further stimulated by targeted knowledge and awareness raising actions.consumer behaviour, fruit and vegetable, organic food, integrated agricultural production, ordered probit model, Slovenia, Consumer/Household Economics, Marketing, Q13,

Economic Trends in Slovenian Food Processing Industry

Accession to the European Union has triggered substantial changes in the business environment of Slovenian food processing industry which intensified restructuring processes and increased pressures to the business performance of the sector. The article analyses key economic indicators during the pre-accession period and for year 2004. Trends revealed largely indicate sectoral competitiveness deficits and therefore confirm a foregone possibility to anticipate negative effects of accession to the European Union

Young urban adults preference for wine information sources: An exploratory study for Republic of Macedonia

This article focuses on measuring the importance of wine information sources that influence the wine choice of Macedonian young adults purchasing wine in wine shops. Our goal tried to identify significant differences in the use of information sources across wine knowledge, involvement and gender-demographic subgroups within the sample, in order to give marketing managers a means to develop more efficient marketing strategies. Most marketing researchers use rating scales to understand consumer preferences. These have a range of problems, which can be improved using the new technique, best-worst scaling (BWS). The BWS method was applied to measure the level of importance to a list of most commonly used wine information sources. For this study, they were selected on a base of qualitative interviews with Macedonian wine marketers and confirmed after literature review of the articles published in wine marketing journals. A total of 123 Macedonian young consumers between the age of 25 and 34 participated in a face-to-face interview preformed in three wine stores in Skopje and one in Bitola. The study results show that young urban adults in selection of their wines give more importance to information obtain by tasting the wine previously, recommendation from family members friends and colleagues. The information sources less preferred were radio, television, billboards and printed media. Moreover, the study showed that specific differences exist in the preferences of information sources of males and females and between different knowledge and involvement groups

Young Urban Adults' Preferences for Wine Attributes: An Exploratory Study of the Republic of Macedonia Wine Market Applying the Best-Worst Scaling

This work focuses on measuring the importance of the attributes which influence the wine choice of Macedonian young wine consumers when they purchase wine in wine stores. Our goal is to identify significant behavioral differences across genderdemographic subgroups of the sample, in order to give marketers an instrument to develop more efficient marketing strategies. Most marketing researchers use rating scales to understand consumer preferences. These have a range of problems, which can be ameliorated by the use of the new technique, the best-worst scaling (BWS). The objectives of the paper are twofold: first, to explore the preferences and gender differences of Macedonian young urban adults towards wine attributes; and second, to present the best-worst scaling method and to demonstrate its empirical use. A total of 100 Macedonian young consumers between the age of 25 and 34 purchasing wine in wine stores participated in a face-to-face interview preformed in three wine stores in Skopje and one in Bitola. The best-worst scaling method was applied to measure the level of importance to a list of most common attributes used in a choice of wine. The study results shows that young urban adults in their selection of wine give more importance for the wine attributes: type of wine (red/white), brand, grape variety and price. The attributes less preferred were alcohol content, medal/awards and country of origin. Moreover, the study showed that genders differ in their use of wine attributes. Young males prefer more barrel aged wines, while females put more attention to wine type and bottle design

Determinants of Food Away From Home

Developed countries have been researching food expenditure patterns of population for a longer period of time. They found out that importance of food away from home (FAFH) was growing. The latter was mostly a result of development or influence of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of a consumer (household). In Slovenia there are none or rather few studies about FAFH. Therefore the object of this study is to estimate FAFH in Slovenia with Household budget survey, the most commonly used data set in this kind of analysis. Our research showed similar tendencies of FAFH, compared with developed countries. The only exception were nontraditional households (single or two-member). Nontraditional slovenian households purchase less of FAFH than other households (more than two-member), in comparison with households in developed countries

Determinants of purchasing behaviour for organic and integrated fruits and vegetables in Slovenia

A country-vide survey related to purchasing behaviour of organic and integrated fruit and vegetables has been prepared for Slovenia. An ordered probit model of consumer choice was developed on the basis of survey results to quantify various determinants of purchase frequency for organically and integrally produced fruit and vegetables. Results show that purchase of analysed produce is most significantly influenced by their availability in retail outlets, followed by consumers’ income, health and environmental considerations, and visual attractiveness of products. Demand for organically and integrally produced fruit and vegetables could be further stimulated by targeted knowledge and awareness raising actions