An investigation of the supply chain of fisheries products in Greece

The present study provides an empirical investigation of the supply chain of fisheries products in Greece, through the implementation of the Structure – Conduct and Performance (SCP) methodological approach. The determinants of market performance have been analyzed considering the causal relationship of industry structure and firm conduct, and consecutively the causal relationship of firm conduct and market performance. Primary data were collected from Greek fisheries products stakeholders through personal interviews. The findings reveal that firm conduct is affected by industry structure and sequentially both have a bearing upon market performance. As concerns the impact of firm conduct on market performance, quality assurance has the most significant positive effect, which reveals the significance of product differentiation strategy in determining the market performance of Greek fisheries firms. According to the total effects on each dependent variable as a whole, the industry structure has greater impact on market performance than the firm conduct. The most important factor that affects firm conduct is international competition while the most important factors that affect market performance are those pertaining to industry structure – namely competitive advantage and C.F.P measures. The most positive and significant effect of competitive advantage that is reflected to customer demand, trade barriers and competition illustrates that it is a prerequisite to improve levels of market performance. These findings may assist all involved parties to confront impediments and develop efficient marketing strategies to compete more successfully in the global marketplace.market analysis, Structure – Conduct – Performance, fisheries products, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Marketing Program Implementation of Greek Fisheries Firms

This study analyses the marketing program implementation in Greek fisheries firms. In this perspective, quantitative research with personal interviews to fisheries firms’ executives is elaborated. Data were analyzed elaborating cluster and discriminant analysis. Findings reveal that there are two distinct groups of Greek fisheries firms regarding their decisions about the components of marketing mix. The results demonstrate that there are differences among the two groups mainly in terms of price and distribution policies. Particularly, 62.6% of sample firms seem to dispose a differential marketing mix, while 37.4% of sample firms seem to dispose a non-differential marketing mix. Notably, both clusters are not aware of quality and sustainability assurance certifications regarding seafood products. From this perspective, there is a potential for a better organized marketing program implementation aiming to respond efficiently in modern market needs

Marketing chain analysis of fisheries products in Greece under the frame of common fisheries policy

Although extensive research on the importance of supply chain management exists, only a few studies on the fisheries sector have been conducted. Especially, in the open sea fisheries sector which constitutes an important part of the food industry, the large and increasing trade of global fisheries production and the fact that much of the trade flow is from developing to industrialized countries, indicate the potential of certification as both an incentive to improved fisheries management and a barrier to trade. This factor has become of increasing importance due to added emphasis on traceability and food safety as well as stricter requirements from importers or retailers to their suppliers. Therefore, the analysis of fisheries supply chain is crucial both in research and market level. The present study attempts to empirically investigate the main factors affecting firm performance in Greek fisheries sector, through the implementation of the Structure – Conduct and Performance (SCP) paradigm. Primary data collected from stakeholders in major fisheries wharves through personal interviews. A combination of exploratory, confirmatory factor analyses as well as path and cluster analyses were employed. Two possible relationships have been investigated: the causal relationship of market structure on firm conduct and the causal relationship of market structure and firm conduct, on firm performance. Factors that were either similar or dissimilar to existing knowledge appear to be important for the improvement of fisheries firm performance. Findings reveal that firm conduct is influenced by market structure and both affect either directly or indirectly firm performance. The last stage of this empirical research was cluster analysis, aiming at the segmentation of fisheries firms to empirically investigate possible significant differences in perceptions regarding firm performance in the fisheries sector. Results reveal three distinct groups: low performers, medium performers and high performers. Consequently, results demonstrate that there are statistically significant differences among the three emerged clusters in terms of quality and market performance, limitations in product’s normal supply, restrictions applied by Common Fisheries Policy (C.F.P) measures, and potential strategies in research and development. As a result, these findings may assist all involved parties to confront impediments and develop efficient marketing strategies in order to compete more successfully in the global marketplaceΗ παρούσα διατριβή συνίσταται σε μια προσπάθεια διερεύνησης και ανάλυσης της αλυσίδας Μάρκετινγκ των αλιευτικών προϊόντων στην Ελλάδα. Η σημαντική συμβολή του τομέα της αλιείας, ιδιαίτερα στην ανάπτυξη της οικονομίας των παράκτιων περιοχών της Ελλάδας, καθώς και τα διάφορα προβλήματα που αυτός εμφανίζει, οδήγησαν στην ανάλυση της αλυσίδας Μάρκετινγκ των αλιευτικών προϊόντων στα πλαίσια της Κοινής Αλιευτικής Πολιτικής (Κ.Αλ.Π), με στόχο τη διερεύνηση πιθανών εναλλακτικών προτάσεων που θα μπορούσαν να συμβάλουν, ώστε η αλυσίδα προσφοράς των αλιευτικών προϊόντων να γίνει πιο ανταγωνιστική στην εγχώρια και στη διεθνή αγορά. Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τα αποτελέσματα συναφών ερευνών στην αλιεία, αλλά και τα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά της συγκεκριμένης αλυσίδας Μάρκετινγκ, στο πλαίσιο της εφαρμογής της Κ.Αλ.Π, επιλέχθηκε η αναλυτική προσέγγιση του παραδείγματος της Δομής – Συμπεριφοράς – Απόδοσης (Structure – Conduct – Performance – SCP paradigm). Η έρευνα αφορούσε στους εμπλεκόμενους στην αλυσίδα Μάρκετινγκ των αλιευτικών προϊόντων που συγκεντρώνονται στις κυριότερες ιχθυόσκαλες της Ελλάδας. Η διεξαγωγή της εμπειρικής έρευνας έγινε με τη χρήση ερωτηματολογίου. Η μέθοδος συμπλήρωσης του ερωτηματολογίου ήταν αυτή των προσωπικών συνεντεύξεων, με την οποία συγκεντρώθηκαν συνολικά 99 έγκυρα ερωτηματολόγια. Η μέθοδος δειγματοληψίας περιλάμβανε τη χρήση υποκειμενικού δείγματος και ειδικότερα, δείγματος “χιονοστιβάδας”. Το χρονικό διάστημα διεξαγωγής της κύριας έρευνας αφορά στον Ιανουάριο έως το Μάιο του 2009. Ο έλεγχος εγκυρότητας του ερωτηματολογίου πραγματοποιήθηκε αρχικά με την εφαρμογή της Διερευνητικής Παραγοντικής Ανάλυσης και ειδικότερα τη μέθοδο εξαγωγής των παραγόντων σε κύριες συνιστώσες (Principal Components Analysis-PCA). Στη συνέχεια, προκειμένου να επιβεβαιωθεί η εγκυρότητα του ερωτηματολογίου, χρησιμοποιήθηκε η Επιβεβαιωτική Παραγοντική Ανάλυση (Confirmatory Factor Analysis-CFA). Παράλληλα, ο έλεγχος αξιοπιστίας των κλιμάκων των εξαγόμενων παραγόντων πραγματοποιήθηκε με την εκτίμηση των συντελεστών a (alpha) του Cronbach. Η εφαρμογή του ‘παραδείγματος’ της SCP, περιλάμβανε την ανάπτυξη ερμηνευτικών παραγόντων που περιγράφουν α) τη δομή της αγοράς, β) τη συμπεριφορά των επιχειρήσεων και γ) την επιχειρησιακή απόδοση. Η αλληλεπίδραση αυτών των παραγόντων εξετάστηκε ολιστικά (άμεσες, έμμεσες και συνολικές επιδράσεις) μέσω του Υποδείγματος Ανάλυσης Διαδρομών (Path Analysis Model). Σύμφωνα με την εκτίμηση των συνολικών επιδράσεων διαπιστώθηκε ότι η δομή της αγοράς είχε μεγαλύτερη επίδραση στην επιχειρησιακή απόδοση από ότι η συμπεριφορά των επιχειρήσεων. Οι πλέον σημαντικοί παράγοντες επίδρασης της δομής της αγοράς στην επιχειρησιακή απόδοση βρέθηκε ότι είναι το ανταγωνιστικό πλεονέκτημα και η ανάπτυξη του προϊόντος, ενώ όσον αφορά στη συμπεριφορά των επιχειρήσεων βρέθηκε ότι είναι η προώθηση του προϊόντος. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας επιτρέπουν την εν μέρει κατανόηση του τρόπου με τον οποίο διάφοροι ερμηνευτικοί παράγοντες της δομής της αγοράς και της συμπεριφοράς των επιχειρήσεων προσδιορίζουν την επιχειρησιακή απόδοση στην αλυσίδα Μάρκετινγκ των αλιευτικών προϊόντων στην Ελλάδα. Αυτή η αναγνώριση των αλληλεπιδράσεων συμβάλλει στη διαμόρφωση και στην υλοποίηση βέλτιστων πολιτικών για τους φορείς διαχείρισης της Κ.Αλ.Π, αλλά και στην υιοθέτηση αποτελεσματικότερων στρατηγικών Μάρκετινγκ για τους συμμετέχοντες στον τομέα. Το τελευταίο στάδιο της εμπειρικής ανάλυσης αναφέρεται στην ανάλυση κατά συστάδες. Στόχος της ανάλυσης αυτής ήταν να διερευνηθούν κοινά χαρακτηριστικά που ενδεχομένως επιτρέπουν την τμηματοποίηση των επιχειρήσεων του δείγματος, με βάση τις διακριτές αντιλήψεις που αναφέρονται στους προσδιοριστικούς παράγοντες της επιχειρησιακής απόδοσης. Με την ανάλυση κατά συστάδες εντοπίστηκαν τρεις διαφορετικές ομάδες επιχειρήσεων και αναπτύχθηκε το προφίλ της κάθε ομάδας, σύμφωνα με τα κοινωνικοοικονομικά χαρακτηριστικά των επιχειρήσεων του δείγματος. Οι τρεις αυτές ομάδες αφορούν στις επιχειρήσεις με υψηλή απόδοση, στις επιχειρήσεις με μέτρια απόδοση και στις επιχειρήσεις με χαμηλή απόδοση, αντίστοιχα

Marketing Program Implementation of Greek Fisheries Firms

This study analyses the marketing program implementation in Greek fisheries firms. In this perspective, quantitative research with personal interviews to fisheries firms’ executives is elaborated. Data were analyzed elaborating cluster and discriminant analysis. Findings reveal that there are two distinct groups of Greek fisheries firms regarding their decisions about the components of marketing mix. The results demonstrate that there are differences among the two groups mainly in terms of price and distribution policies. Particularly, 62.6% of sample firms seem to dispose a differential marketing mix, while 37.4% of sample firms seem to dispose a non-differential marketing mix. Notably, both clusters are not aware of quality and sustainability assurance certifications regarding seafood products. From this perspective, there is a potential for a better organized marketing program implementation aiming to respond efficiently in modern market needs.</jats:p

An investigation of the supply chain of fisheries products in Greece

The present study provides an empirical investigation of the supply chain of fisheries products in Greece, through the implementation of the Structure – Conduct and Performance (SCP) methodological approach. The determinants of market performance have been analyzed considering the causal relationship of industry structure and firm conduct, and consecutively the causal relationship of firm conduct and market performance. Primary data were collected from Greek fisheries products stakeholders through personal interviews. The findings reveal that firm conduct is affected by industry structure and sequentially both have a bearing upon market performance. As concerns the impact of firm conduct on market performance, quality assurance has the most significant positive effect, which reveals the significance of product differentiation strategy in determining the market performance of Greek fisheries firms. According to the total effects on each dependent variable as a whole, the industry structure has greater impact on market performance than the firm conduct. The most important factor that affects firm conduct is international competition while the most important factors that affect market performance are those pertaining to industry structure – namely competitive advantage and C.F.P measures. The most positive and significant effect of competitive advantage that is reflected to customer demand, trade barriers and competition illustrates that it is a prerequisite to improve levels of market performance. These findings may assist all involved parties to confront impediments and develop efficient marketing strategies to compete more successfully in the global marketplace

Investigating Export Performance and Competitiveness of Balkan and Eastern European Fisheries Sector

AbstractAs foreign markets tend to be more diverse and competitive, export performance of fisheries exporting sector has been gaining increasing attention by policy makers, business managers and marketing researchers.Consequently, the aim of this paper is the investigation of export performance and competitiveness in fisheries sector among Balkan and Eastern European countries. Using Eurostat data, the export trade is described for each country, regarding exports of fisheries products in the market of EU - 27. In specific, Greece presents a significant export trade in fresh or chilled Gilt-head sea bream, while Bulgaria in frozen sprats and snails (live, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted dried with or no shell). Czech Republic exports mainly live carp, while Hungary portrays a significant export trade in live freshwater fish. Finally, Poland shows a significant export trade in smoked fillets of pacific salmon, while Slovenia in fresh or chilled fillets of freshwater fish. The estimated Revealed Competitive Advantage (RCA) indices reveal a wide range of competitiveness among the countries examined.Therefore, the results of this study could help policy makers to probably reallocate the natural resources, reinforcing the national production activities in those species and potentially to develop a national strategic plan for the export marketing of the fisheries products involved

Consumers’ Attitudes towards Fisheries Products

AbstractThis study investigates Greek consumers’ behaviour towards fisheries products, identifying possible distinct consumer groups, and examines possible linkages between consumer characteristics and marketing aspects of fisheries products. Using data from an in-person field survey, a Two-Step cluster analysis demonstrated different attitudes among consumers with different profiles and also identified two distinct consumer groups differentiated primarily by income: the low potential aquaculture consumers and the high potential aquaculture consumers, representing 67% and 33% of the total sample, respectively. The study provides evidence that more efficient marketing strategies are probably needed in order to promote aquaculture products’ consumption, and potentially contribute in guiltlessness of the whole sector