Application of digital solutions to improve the operation of short food supply chains

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) are today widely promoted due to the positive impact on social, economic and environmental sustainability. However, short chains face several specific challenges (e.g., meeting the requirements of consumers and ensuring optimal operations). The application of innovative solutions and digitalisation can support the actors of SFSCs to achieve these goals. Solutions and methods were collected based on the innovativeness and applicability of SFSCs. Systematic analysis of the needs of SFSCs for technological and non-technological innovations was carried out by partners of the SmartChain project. Based on the research, recommendations were made for the participating SFSCs regarding potential innovations. A significant proportion of the identified solutions have digital elements that were collectively assessed as a suitable solution in the case of the studied SFSCs. The current work provides an overview of the potential implementation of the collected innovative solutions having digital elements and addresses the primary needs and issues of SFSCs where the application is relevant. Highlighted areas of performance are marketing, communication, packaging and labelling, and logistics

Method for identification of the opportunities for improving the competitiveness of Short Food Supply Chains through the application of innovative solutions

There are several problems, daily pitfalls, challenges, that the different types of Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) face regularly. A method was developed to help to elaborate strategies to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs. After the analysis of the single SFSC businesses, the value propositions providing for the consumers and/or the short-chain as a whole, screening the needs of the consumers, through the application of innovations, the value propositions can be upgraded. With the appropriate innovations, the image, products/services of the organizations can be more appealing and preferable. The work was carried out within the SMARTCHAIN H2020 project

Consumer attitudes in field of Hungarian red paprika

Informed decision is a key issue in consumer science that has influenced the food control regime in Europe. Ground red paprika has got some specialities that make it a unique food stuff for Hungarian consumers: an uniquely Hungarian product or Hungaricum, in other words. This also means that beyond measurable quality parameters paprika accounts for an ethical value for Hungarian consumers. Considering this, it is even more important to provide a clear definition of products on the shelves at buying situations. Indication of quality categories certainly represents a critical part of food labelling. In case of red paprika, as a spice, the Hungarian “Food Book”, Codex Alimentarius Hungaricus nominates four different quality categories. In our study we have conducted a throughout analysis of the level of consumer comprehension in regard of these categories. We found that there is a complete misunderstanding in this issue. Only two out of the four quality categories were identified by the consumers. We also recorded perplexity when we asked the respondents to organize the valid four categories in order according their quality level. As a summary, we have to conclude that conditions of informed decision making have not been met in regard of red paprika purchasing in case of most of the Hungarian consumers

Consumer attitudes in field of Hungarian red paprika

Informed decision is a key issue in consumer science that has influenced the food control regime in Europe. Ground red paprika has got some specialities that make it a unique food stuff for Hungarian consumers: an uniquely Hungarian product or Hungaricum, in other words. This also means that beyond measurable quality parameters paprika accounts for an ethical value for Hungarian consumers. Considering this, it is even more important to provide a clear definition of products on the shelves at buying situations. Indication of quality categories certainly represents a critical part of food labelling. In case of red paprika, as a spice, the Hungarian “Food Book”, Codex Alimentarius Hungaricus nominates four different quality categories. In our study we have conducted a throughout analysis of the level of consumer comprehension in regard of these categories. We found that there is a complete misunderstanding in this issue. Only two out of the four quality categories were identified by the consumers. We also recorded perplexity when we asked the respondents to organize the valid four categories in order according their quality level. As a summary, we have to conclude that conditions of informed decision making have not been met in regard of red paprika purchasing in case of most of the Hungarian consumers

Elimination of Bottlenecks of Short Food Chains by Technological and Non-technological Innovations in Short Food Supply Chains

The objective of this work is to identify the typical problems, barriers, needs of the Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs), and the appropriate technological and non-technological innovations for improving their performance and to identify and characterize their applicability.With the analysis of these inventories of the typical needs of the SFSCs and the solutions, such patterns of strengths and weaknesses can be established, which can be used for the identification of the typical bottlenecks and potential success factors of SFSCs.The rapid development of digital technologies provides a range of new enabling functions of solutions, which can be adapted for SFSCs

Searching for quality Hungarian products - the operation of the Hungarian food codex

The Hungarian Food Codex is presented in this article, and the role it plays in market regulation and the evolution of consumer awareness, and in addition to a historic overview, the cardinal aspects of its operation are also discussed. Following this, through the results of our primary research, it is shown on what basis price-sensitive Hungarian consumers give their vote of confidence to Hungarian products. In this light, we consider how changes in quality requirements might affect in the future the attitudes revealed, since it is a fundamental task of the regulations in the Hungarian Food Codex that customers regard domestically produced foods as being of excellent quality. © 2016, Hungarian National Commiteee of the European Organization for quality. All rights reserved

Minőségi magyar termékek nyomában - a magyar élelmiszerkönyv működése

Cikkünk bemutatja a Magyar Élelmiszerkönyvet, illetve annak szerepét a piaci szabályozásban és a fogyasztói minőségtudatosság kialakításában, valamint a történeti áttekintésen túl kitér a sikeres működés sarkalatos pontjaira is. Ezt követően primer kutatási eredményeken keresztül mutatjuk be azt, hogy az árérzékeny magyar vásárlók milyen szempontok alapján szavaznak bizalmat a magyar termékeknek. Ennek fényében számításba vesszük, hogy a minőségre vonatkozó előírások a jövőben hogyan hathatnak a feltárt attitűdökre, hiszen a Magyar Élelmiszerkönyv szabályozásainak alapvető feladata, hogy az itthon készült élelmiszereket a vásárlók kiemelkedő minőségűnek érezzék

Value propositions for improving the competitiveness of short food supply chains built on technological and non-technological innovations

There has been growing consumer demand for the products and services of the short food supply chains (SFSCs) in recent times. A procedure was developed to identify the technological and technological innovations that can improve the performance and competitiveness of the SFSCs. The needs of the SFSCs for innovative solutions were collected by interviewing 18 SFSCs from 9 countries. An inventory was prepared to contain 136 technological and non-technological innovations, meeting these needs. The innovations were collected from the good practices of the 18 SFSCs, experiences of the project partners and state of the art. The success factors and bottlenecks of each short food supply chain operation and their current value propositions were identified. From the inventory, those innovations were selected for each short food chain case study which can be applied to eliminate or reduce the bottlenecks or enhance the success factors leading to new, upgraded value propositions with increased added value for the consumers. The new, upgraded value propositions can serve as a starting point for developing a strategy for improving the competitiveness of a short food chain organisation through the application of innovations

Barriers and facilitators of purchasing from short food supply chains: evidence from consumer focus groups in Germany, Spain, Greece and Hungary

This study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators of consumers purchasing from short food supply chains (SFSC). Eight focus groups were conducted with consumers in the rural and urban areas of Germany, Spain, Hungary and Greece. Participants generally felt that increasing the convenience of purchasing SFSC products (in terms of a proximal location and being able to purchase a wide range of produce in one place) was a prerequisite for them to buy such products. Food quality in terms of taste, freshness and organic status were also taken into account in purchase decisions, and there appears to be a greater focus on health rather than the environmental implications of organic production, although the environmental aspects are also appreciated. This study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators of consumers purchasing from short food supply chains (SFSC). Eight focus groups were conducted with consumers in the rural and urban areas of Germany, Spain, Hungary and Greece. Participants generally felt that increasing the convenience of purchasing SFSC products (in terms of a proximal location and being able to purchase a wide range of produce in one place) was a prerequisite for them to buy such products. Food quality in terms of taste, freshness and organic status were also taken into account in purchase decisions, and there appears to be a greater focus on health rather than the environmental implications of organic production, although the environmental aspects are also appreciated. Some participants also like the idea of supporting their local community through purchasing from local producers and/or retailers. It was believed that small-scale production and SFSC result in better quality food, but participants had less confidence in the hygiene and food safety standards of SFSC compared to longer chains. Participants thought that consumers would purchase local food if they could more easily access a variety of local food in one place, such as through supermarkets, cooperatives, farm shops and markets, or an online platform that aggregates producers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio