How do SME networks evolve? Investigating network context, features and outcomes amongst Agrifood SMEs in Greece

This thesis aims to examine the dynamics and interplay between contextual factors and network features and their role in SME network evolution, with a view to building a theory of how context and features affect SME network performance outcomes. Given the complexity of the phenomenon under investigation, a case study methodology was employed. Specifically, four cases of Greek agrifood SME networks were selected of which two exhibited strong performance and two relatively weak performance. Following literature review, the influence of three categories of contextual factor {market conditions, social cohesiveness, external institutional support), and three types of network feature {member profile, competencies, network governance) were examined empirically via the case studies. The research found that all six had some individual influence on performance, but beyond this, certain patterns of interplay between factors could be distinguished. In particular, certain positive .factors were found to counteract the negative influence of other existing (or lacking) factors. Specifically, in terms of network features, governance structure was found to have a countervailing effect over negative performance outcomes produced by diverse member profile and lack of competencies. In addition, the competencies of the constructor of the governance structure were also important in overcoming deficiencies in other features. In terms of network context, social cohesiveness seemed to have a countervailing effect over contextual disincentives for network strengthening, such as unfavourable market conditions or lack of external institutional support. Overall, the research finds that network features are key to explaining the variability in performance displayed by SME networks operating in a very similar context, since they moderate the impacts of external forces on the evolution and performance outcomes of those networks. The research concludes with a proposed framework to explain how context, features and outcomes interact in SME networks

How Local and Seasonal is the Consumption of Soft Fruit in Scotland?

The main implication of the food miles indicator is that in order to protect the environment consumers should purchase food locally and seasonal. However, something that it is missing in all discussions is the evidence about how bad or good - in terms of locality and seasonality- is the actual consumption of food. This is probably due to the fact that food consumption statistics are available as aggregated annual data. In this paper we analyse the purchases of food, in particular the purchases of soft fruits in Scotland, which not only have marked production seasonality but also are imported from the rest of the UK and from abroad. For the analysis we use the Kantar Worldpanel dataset for the period 2006 until 2009. The results indicate that Scottish soft fruit covers a relatively small segment of the market and therefore eat locally would imply reduce significantly the consumption of soft fruit, even during the Scottish produce season. As regards the consumption seasonality, the purchases of soft fruit, particularly strawberry, seem to be seasonal despite the possibility of getting out-of- season imported soft fruit.Scotland agriculture, soft fruits, agricultural marketing, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Q13,

Cereal Prices, Bread Consumption and Health in Scotland

The recent rise in food prices has increased concern about the choice of a healthy food basket, especially in the context of the current formulation of a National Food Policy for Scotland. This concern has revived interest in food price and expenditure demand systems as they provide information about consumers’ food decisions. The paper focuses on the consumption of brown and white bread, as they are the most typical forms of cereals use in the UK. Moreover, nutritionists recommend the consumption of wholemeal or brown bread in contraposition to white bread as part of an appropriate diet due to its health benefits. The overall purpose of the paper is to measure the impact that the increase in the price of cereals during the period 2005 to 2008 would have had on the purchase of brown and white bread. This is undertaken in two stages: the first measures the effect of changes in milling wheat prices on brown and white bread prices, and the second measures the elasticities of the purchases of brown and white bread with respect to changes in their prices through the estimation of four demand systems. The results, excluding those from the static LA/AIDS that seem to high, indicate, ceteris paribus, that the increase by 72 per cent in the price of wheat produced a decrease in brown and white bread purchases in the range of 30 to 40 per cent; however, as regards the question what type of bread decreased more, the answer depends on the demand model used.Bread consumption models, Scotland, Food prices, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

PREMIA FOR DIFFERENTIATED PRODUCTS AT THE RETAIL LEVEL: CAN THE MARKET PUT A VALUE ON THE MOUNTAIN ATTRIBUTE?

The purpose of this paper is, by comparing products with a mountain provenance with those from non-mountain areas, to explore whether the market puts a premium on the „mountain attribute‟. First, we present a theoretical framework on attributes and cues that helps answering the question what is “mountain” representing in a products or in other term, is it an attribute or a cue. Second, based on a shelves survey collected as part of the EuroMARC, we analyse for several products (apples, sausages, water and cheese) and countries (Austria, France, Norway, Scotland and Slovenia) using a hedonic price regression approach whether a premium is paid for mountain food products in comparison with identified similar non-mountain food products. The results indicate that the answer is mixed and depends on the product and country. Thus, premia was found only in the case of cheese and for Austria, Norway and Slovenia.Mountain quality food products, attributes and cues, hedonic regression, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Marketing,

Agri-food supply chains and sustainability-related issues: evidence from across the Scottish agri-food economy

This paper examines the influence of agri-food supply chains on the sustainability-related activities and decisions of Scottish farmers, as well as the treatment of sustainability issues by food processors and retailers themselves. It is based on 8 whole chain case studies covering some of Scotland‘s major agricultural products. The cases identify differing levels of understanding and activities related to sustainability, but widespread acknowledgement that sustainability involves the development of chains within which all parties can achieve acceptable profits. Indeed, collaborative supply chains, which seek improved economic performance, frequently assist environmental and social sustainability. The main drivers of sustainability are found to be the cost of key inputs, product markets where customers increasingly seek sustainability in products, the ethos and values of the businesses and people involved, and legislation and strategies of industry bodies. At the farm level, many farmers are seeking more sustainable production systems, particularly in economic and environmental terms, but there is a need for greater guidance and assistance. The paper presents a review of several key food supply sustainability issues, the methods and concepts used in compiling and analysing the cases, as well as the principal findings and implications for agri-food supply chain and policy development.Sustainability, Food, Supply chain, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Q13, Q18,

Promoting Mountain Quality Food Products (MQFPs) – Analysing possibilities beyond labelling policy

The new orientation of the Common Agriculture Policy encourages producers to respond to market forces. In addition, the public expect producers to contribute to a living countryside. Based on this context, the purpose of the paper is to discuss what other marketing alternatives exist for the promotion of mountain quality food products beyond labelling. This is done through the analyses of shelves and postal surveys to retailers, carried out as part of the EU project EuroMARC, which included information for Austria, France, Norway, Romania, Slovenia and UK (Scotland). The analysis concentrates on two product promotion aspects: display and store-promotion, and communication of product attributes. The results indicate that even without labelling policy there is scope to improve the promotion of mountain quality food products.Mountain food products, food promotion, local food, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Agri-food supply chains and sustainability-related issues: evidence from across the Scottish agri-food economy

This paper examines the influence of agri-food supply chains on the sustainability-related activities and decisions of Scottish farmers, as well as the treatment of sustainability issues by food processors and retailers themselves. It is based on 8 whole chain case studies covering some of Scotland’s major agricultural products. The cases identify differing levels of understanding and activities related to sustainability, but widespread acknowledgement that sustainability involves the development of chains within which all parties can achieve acceptable profits. Indeed, collaborative supply chains, which seek improved economic performance, frequently assist environmental and social sustainability. The main drivers of sustainability are found to be the cost of key inputs, product markets where customers increasingly seek sustainability in products, the ethos and values of the businesses and people involved, and legislation and strategies of industry bodies. At the farm level, many farmers are seeking more sustainable production systems, particularly in economic and environmental terms, but there is a need for greater guidance and assistance. The paper presents a review of several key food supply sustainability issues, the methods and concepts used in compiling and analysing the cases, as well as the principal findings and implications for agri-food supply chain and policy development.Sustainability, Food, Supply chain, Agribusiness, Food Security and Poverty,

Bread Prices, Consumption and Nutrition Implications for Scotland: A Regional Analysis Using Supermarket Scanner Data

The recent rise in food prices has increased the concern about the choice of a healthy food basket, especially in the context of the discussion around the formulation of a National Food Policy for Scotland. This concern has brought back the interest in the price and expenditure demand systems as they provide information about consumers’ food decisions. The paper focuses on the consumption of brown and white bread, as they are the most typical ways of cereals use in the UK and nutritionists recommend the consumption of wholemeal or brown bread in contraposition to white bread as part of an appropriate diet due to its health benefits. This paper aims to answer whether changes in bread prices affect the quantity and composition of the Scottish demand for bread, and whether the latter has been the same for different regions and socioeconomic groups. We used supermarket scanner data to estimate three demand systems and compute their elasticities. All the models showed statistically significant own price and expenditure elasticities and the Hicksian elasticities show that different types of bread are net substitutes. After simulating an increase in all the bread prices we found that brown bread consumption decreases more than white bread just the opposite to what is recommended by the nutritionists.Bread consumption models, Scotland, Food prices, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,