Marketing Dynamics and Management Excellence: The Sources of Successful Internationalization of a Food Processing Company from a Transition Economy (Case: MASPEX—Poland)

The article presents a case story of the fall and rise of the food industry in Poland's transition economy, illustrated with the example of one of its most successful companies. The author distinguishes 3 stages of the economic transition of Poland: Stage 1, in which the Polish food processing industry collapsed, faced with fierce foreign competition after the implementation of a strategy of liberalization and privatization; Stage 2 (since the late 1990s), when young, dynamic, and relatively well-educated Polish entrepreneurs and managers not only started to regain the local market but also began international expansion, intensifying exports, primarily to EU markets; Stage 3, during which the internationalization took the form of foreign direct investment outward into the former neighboring socialist/communist countries.

The MASPEX Group provides an excellent example of successful revival and expansion achieved thanks to the company's dynamic marketing strategy, executed by a young, dynamic, and highly professional management team.     

Consumer preferences for new technology: apples enriched with antioxidant coatings in Uzbekistan

Food markets in developing countries are experiencing an expansion of new functional products. Even though their market share is small, these food products are usually imported and post a higher price compared to local products. In this article, we investigate the consumer response toward new functional food products in Uzbekistan by focusing on the incorporation of apples enriched with antioxidant coating in the food market. We conduct consumer surveys with two different information treatments. We utilize a dichotomous‐choice contingent valuation methodology to estimate willingness to pay for this product and analyze factors that affect consumer choice. The results suggest that the average Uzbek respondent is willing to purchase functional apples with a 6% discount. The effect of information regarding the potential health benefits of antioxidants is positive and statistically significant. We compare the findings with a previous U.S. study of the same product and discuss how the delivery method provides an additional hurdle in the Uzbek market.     

An Exploratory Study of Brand Success: Evidence From the Food Industry

The goal of this research is to identify drivers that influence the brand success, in order to develop a more effective business strategy. An abductive theory approach is adopted and food managers from Italy and Sweden were questioned. The authors modeled the eight correlated first-order factors, using seven independent variables and the dependent variable brand success. The variance-based structural equation modeling approach (partial least square [PLS] algorithm) have been applied. This study provides insight and empirical evidence on brand success. The findings can be employed as more effective brand strategies in a sector that has been under-investigated in academic literature and practice.     

An Analysis of Household Beef Consumption of Japanese Expatriates in U.S.:

This paper uses a novel approach to investigate how food consumption in Japan may change as Japanese consumers become more westernised in their tastes and preferences for food. It is widely believed that as food prices in Japan fall to international levels and as Japanese consumers become more westernised in their taste and preferences for food, their meat consumption patterns, in particular, will approach those of western countries. The approach undertaken in this paper involves a comprehensive survey of Japanese expatriates in Los Angeles, California, regarding their food consumption habits. The findings are interesting as they shed some light on the changing nature of food consumption of accultured Japanese faced with competitive food prices. The results indicate that although household meat consumption of Japanese expatriates have changed, it remains debatable, however, that their food consumption habits will approach those of western consumers in the foreseeable future. The findings have important implications for food marketeers in Japan and elsewhere, particularly as further liberalisation of food import in that country gains momentum.     

Marketing Premium Food Products in Emerging Economies

Abstract

Developing branded food products, that signal higher standards, presents a challenge to processors in newly emerging markets. Many studies have been conducted to learn about consumer awareness and willingness to pay for higher quality products with particular attention to local origin, organic, or environmentally friendly products in developed countries. This study focuses on attributes that may increase demand for domestic cheese in Macedonia. We find the willingness to pay to premiums for higher quality, taste, consistency and certified “safe” cheese is relatively high, and with respect to determining target markets, income, region, shopping behavior and various other demographics all help to delineate potential consumers of premium cheese.     

Consumer Attitudes Towards GM Food

Abstract

To communicate effectively with consumers about genetically modified (GM) food, gaining insight in the formation of consumer attitude regarding GM food is essential. Therefore, the current paper first reviews relevant literature describing how consumer attitudes towards GM food are formed. Next, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is applied to own quantitative data to model the formation of consumer attitude towards GM food. Previous analysis of these quantitative data led to the identification and characterisation of four consumer segments (Halfhearted, Green Opponents, Balancers and Enthusiasts) based on beliefs and attitudes towards GM food. Based on the SEM results, recommendations are formulated for each of the four identified consumer segments.     

粮食需求预测方法述评

在国内外24篇有代表性的粮食需求预测文献基础上,文章重点对这些文献的预测时间、预测结果、预测方法、预测的地区、城乡和品种差异进行了比较分析.现有文献的3个主要特点是:首先,定性分析、时间序列模型和联立方程模型是最常见的三种方法,单方程模型和其他方法应用较少;第二,文献集中关注2010 ～2030的粮食需求预测,且在相同时间点不同文献的预测结果比较接近;第三,在预测中,少数文献关注地区差异、城乡差异或品种差异,并且同时关注3种差异的只有1篇.在对现有文献评价基础上,文章提出粮食需求预测领域应进一步深入研究的方向.     

中国粮食跨区域交易的动因研究

粮食跨区域交易是促进粮食主产区与粮食主销区间粮食贸易往来,保障国家粮食安全、推动粮食生产专业化,提高粮食生产效率的重要手段。为促进区域间粮食跨区域交易,主要分析粮食跨区域交易的动力因素。通过分析,认为粮食生产与消费的特殊性、经济动因、政治动因、国情因素、资源禀赋等是粮食跨区域交易的主要动因。     

An African success: the case of conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

This paper highlights the limiting factors of agricultural production in Zimbabwe and presents conservation agriculture (CA) as a potential solution to address many of these challenges. CA, based on the three principles of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotations, targets low soil fertility, moisture deficits and low management standards through the use of soil-fertility-enhancing technologies (precision fertilizer application, crop rotations, sequencing and interactions), improved moisture use efficiency and higher standards of agronomic management practices. The paper also explains the role of CA in natural resource conservation as increasing productivity will reduce the land under crop production and increase the area under natural vegetation. Trends in the development of CA in the past five years and its current status in the country are explained, with the roles of different stakeholders outlined. Evidence on the impact of CA on both food security and the environment is presented. In conclusion, the paper looks at the various factors that may affect the spread of CA to different agro-ecological zones in the country.     

非公有企业促进绿色经济发展战略研究

经过多年的改革,非公有企业已成为我国社会主义市场经济的重要组成部分并且给中国的经济发展带来了蓬勃的动力。绿色经济是符合可持续性发展目标的产业经济,绿色经济的发展与非公有企业之间的关系密不可分。基于我国非公有企业的发展现状以及我国的资源条件、经济环境,研究了非公有企业对我国绿色经济发展的积极作用及促进方式——发展绿色产业的产业链、帮助培养绿色科技人才并提供发展机遇与渠道、提升技术创新能力促进环境技术进步、吸引投资者对绿色项目进行投资、助力政府的绿色政策制度。通过对于促进作用的分析找出仍需加强的内容并给出相关建议——区域绿色经济发展协调性需加强、科技人才的管理方式需要创新、非公有企业监管存在漏洞、绿色创新质量及创新氛围尚待加强。