Perception of Malaysian Food Manufacturers Toward Halal Logistics

This article measures the perception of Malaysian food manufacturers toward halal logistics through an industry survey conducted in Malaysia. Based on a survey with 44 food manufacturers in Malaysia, results indicate that the responsibility of halal logistics according to the manufacturer is a shared responsibility in the halal food supply chain and value chain. Second, the study confirms that a dedicated storage and transportation is required. The manufacturer recognizes that for cold chain products a dedicated halal sea/airport complex is required, whereas for ambient products, no mixing of halal and nonhalal products in the same section is sufficient. The manufacturer thinks that no mixing of halal and nonhalal products in the same zone of the supermarket provides sufficient assurance for the Muslim consumer. Third, 52.3% of the manufacturers are willing to pay more for a halal logistics system, whereas small and large companies show a higher willingness to pay than medium-size companies. Halal logistics is an important component of the manufacturer's halal promise but will require pressure from the government through regulations to make halal logistics a requirement for halal certification of food manufacturers.     

Functional Eating and Strategic Groups in Canada

The emergence of the nutraceuticals and functional foods (NFFs) products is a challenge to economists and management scientists interested in studying the evolution of the sector. There are profound issues in product and in market classification. This paper reports the results of an exploratory study that illustrates the use of strategic groups as a means to research this emerging industry, using a sample of 280 companies in Canada. The analysis identifies six main strategic groups within the NFFs sector that compete on the market, product and capability strategic fields. The results indicate that the sector is widely heterogeneous in firm composition, markets served, and intragroup and intergroup product strategies.
L'émergence de produits nutraceutiques et aliments fonctionnels (NAF) pose un défi aux économistes et aux spécialistes en sciences administratives intéressés par l'étude de I'évolution de ce secteur où perdurent de nomhreux prohlémes de classification de produits et de marchés. Cet article présente les résultats d'une étude exploratoire qui démontre la pertinence de la notion de groupe stratégique dans l'analyse d'un échantillon de 280 compagnies de ce secteur au Canada. Cette etude identifie six groupes strategiques dans le secteur des NAF en concurrence au plan des champs stratégiques de marchés, de produits et de compétences. Les résultats de la recherche montrent que le secteur est largement hétérogène au niveau de la composition des firmes, des marchés desservis et des stratégies de produits intergroupes et intragroupes.     

Quality Upgrades of EU Agri‐Food Exports

We investigate determinants of quality upgrades in EU agri‐food exports using panel data models for the period 2000–2011. By employing highly disaggregated data we show that the unit value of exports is positively correlated to level of economic development and size of population. Our results highlight the negative impacts of comparative advantage and trade costs on upgrades in export quality. Our analysis partly confirms the role of income distribution in quality specialisation, that greater income inequality increases specialisation in quality upgrades. Findings are robust when applied to alternative subsamples, including vertically specialised and final agri‐food products.     

The Determinants of Firm Profitability Differences in EU Food Processing

This paper decomposes the variance in EU food industry return‐on‐assets into year, country, industry and firm effects using a hierarchical linear model (HLM). The HLM approach accounts for some of the methodological drawbacks of conventional approaches of variance decomposition such as anova and components of variance and additionally allows the estimation of the impact of covariates within each effect level. The results for selected EU countries show that firm effects are far more important than industry structure in determining food industry profitability. In particular, firm size and industry concentration are drivers of profitability while firm risk and age as well as industry growth have a negative influence.     

Strategic Marketing and the Dynamics of Food Consumption

Patterns of food consumption shift as countries develop, incomes increase, and lifestyles change. Strategic marketing in this dynamic environment involves aiming at moving targets. Fortunately, some of these changes in demand for food products can be anticipated by understanding those that have already occurred. We consider changes in consumption over time for selected nations as they have developed and also compare a cross section of countries at different levels of development. Seeking and retaining markets in high-, middle-, or low-income countries requires an appreciation of the stages, dynamics, and nature of heir economic development and the implications for food demand.     

Food Safety Through Food Irradiation: Should it be Adopted More by the EU?

Food Safety Through Food Irradiation: Should it be Adopted More by the EU? Food Irradiation is a food safety technology that can eliminate disease‐causing germs from foods. Faut il encourager ?irradiation pour améliorer la sécurité des aliments en Europe? ?irradiation des aliments est une technique de sécurité alimentaire, qui permet ?en éliminer les germes pathogènes. De même que la pasteurisation du lait, le traitement par des radiations ionisantes permet de tuer les bactéries susceptibles de causer des infections ?origine alimentaire. Celles‐ci sont toujours présentes, et ont de graves conséquences tant pour la santé que pour ?économie. Aux Etats‐Unis, ?irradiation est une technique autorisée pour beaucoup de produits alimentaires. Dans ce pays, le nombre de restaurants et de supermarchés vendant des produits irradiés a augmenté de façon considérable au cours des trois dernières années. Des expérimentations économiques montrent que les consommateurs américains sont disposés à dépenser pour le b?uf irradié des sommes sensiblement supérieures aux suppléments de coûts associés à?irradiation. En Europe, ?utilisation de ?irradiation comme technique de conservation des aliments, susceptible de s'insérer dans des programmes de sécurité alimentaire rigoureux, est beaucoup plus limitée. Jusqu'ici, laliste des produits dont ?irradiation est autorisée dans ?ensemble de la Communauté Européenne ne contient qu'une seule catégorie de produits alimentaires:les herbes aromatiques, épices, et assaisonnements ?origine végétale. Avec la globalisation des circuits commerciaux et le renforcement, exigé par les agences de régulation, des normes de sécurité du champ à la fourchette, la généralisation de l0'irradiation des produits alimentaires devrait profiter à?ensemble des producteurs et des consommateurs européens. Nahrungsmittelsicherheit durch Bestrahlung von Nahrungsmitteln: Sollte dies in der EU verstärkt angewandt werden? Bei der Bestrahlung von Nahrungsmitteln handelt es sich um ein Verfahren zur Gewährleistung der Nahrungsmittelsicherheit, bei der krankheitsverursachende Keime in den Nahrungsmitteln abgetötet werden. Wie bei der Pasteurisierung von Milch können Bakterien mit Hilfe von ionisierenden Strahlen in Nahrungsmitteln abgetötet werden, die anderenfalls durch Nahrungsmittel übertragbare Erkrankungen hervorrufen würden. Diese Erkrankungen stellen eine permanente Bedrohung dar und Ziehen ernstzunehmende Konsequenzen für Gesundheit und Wirtschaft nach sich. In den USA dürfen verschiedene Nahrungsmittelarten bestrahlt werden. In den vergangenen drei Jahren hat die Anzahl der Supermärkte und Restaurants in den USA, die strahlungsbehandelte Produkte anbieten, enorm zugenommen. Erste ökonomische Versuche in den USA legen es nahe, dass die Bereitschaft der Verbraucher, einen höheren Preis für bestrahltes Rinderhackfleisch zu zahlen, sehr viel höher ist als die mit der Bestrahlung verbundenen zusätzlichen Kosten. Die Anwendung der Bestrahlung von Nahrungsmitteln als Werkzeug zur Gewährleistung der Nahrungsmittelsicherheit, welches die strengenNahrungsmittelsicherheitspro‐gramme ergänzen könnte, ist in Europa eher begrenzt. Bislang handelt es sich bei den Produkten, die für die Bestrahlung innerhalb der gesamten EU zugelassen sind, nur um eine einzige Nahrungsmittelklasse: getrocknete aromatische Kräuter und Gewürze. Durch die zunehmende Nachfrage der Aufsichtsbehörden nach Nahrungsmittelsicherheit ?vom Stall bis zum Teller? und die Globalisierung des Nahrungsmittelhandels könnten die Produzenten und Verbraucher in der EU von einer verstärkten Anwendung der Bestrahlung von Nahrungsmitteln profitieren. Like pasteurization of milk, treating food with ionizing radiation can kill bacteria that would otherwise cause foodborne disease. Foodborne illnesses are ever present and have serious health and economic consequences. In the US, food irradiation is approved for use in various foods. The number of supermarkets and restaurants in the US that offer irradiated products has increased dramatically in the last three years. Preliminary economic experiments in the US suggest that consumer willingness to pay for irradiated ground beef is substantially greater than the additional costs associated with irradiation. The use of food irradiation as a food safety tool that could complement rigorous food safety programmes is rather limited in Europe. So far, the list of products authorized for irradiation within the whole EU contains only a single food category: dried aromatic herbs, spices, and vegetable seasonings. With increasing demand by regulatory authorities on food safety from ‘farm to fork’ and the globalization of food trade, EU producers and consumers may benefit from wider adoption of irradiation of food products.     

GMO Food Labelling in the EU: Tracing 'the Seeds of Dispute'

GMO Food Labelling in the EU: Tracinq ‘the Seeds of Dispute’ Genetically modified (GM) food labelling has become a critical issue in the international trade arena. Policymakers and consumers in the European Union (EU) seem to agree on the need to control the use of biotechnology in the food industry. As a consequence, recently the EU Commission approved a measure that establishes strict rules on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but which lifts the moratorium on GMO production and marketing. This new Directive deals with mandatory labelling of GM foods and their traceability along the food chain. In spite of the substantial effort made to reconcile the different opinions in the escalating debate about biotechnology, the new GMO regulation seems to be unsatisfactory for too many interest groups. A system of total traceability from ‘farm to fork’ and mandatory labelling for genetically modified products may be considered too complex and too expensive to implement, particularly by those countries or industries that have produced GMO foods for many years. Yet, giving European consumers the freedom to choose GMOs may be the only option that there is until Europeans restore their confidence in the food system and food regulators. A market or consumer‐driven solution may eventually terminate the GMO dispute between the two transatlantic trading blocks. ? Assurance – Revenud a ns ? Agriculture Européenne ?étiquetage des aliments contenant des organismes génétiquement modifyés (OGM) est devenu une question cruciale sur la scène du commerce international. Tant les décideurs politiques que les citoyens de ? Union européenne semblent s'accorder sur la nécessité de soumettre à contrôle ? utilisation des biotechnologies dans ? industrie alimentaire. En conséquence, la Commission européenne a récemment approuvé une mesure qui établit des règies strictes sur les OGM, mais qui lève le moratoire sur leur production et leur commercialisation. Cette nouvelle directive concerne ?étiquetage obligatoire des aliments contenant des OGM et la façon ? en assurer le suivi dans les filières alimentaires. Ce nouveau règlement OGM, en dépit des efforts réels effectués pour réconcilier les différents points de vue dans la montée du débat sur les biotechnologies, semble inconciliable avec trop de groupes ? intérêts pour être satisfaisant. Un système assurant une traçabilité totale, ‘du champ à la fourchette’ et un étiquetage obligatoire pour tout produit contenant des OGM, paraît bien trop complexe et coûteux à mettre en ?uvre, en particulier pour les pays ou les industries qui produisent des aliments génétiquement modifyés depuis des années. Et pourtant, il se pourrait bien que la seule façpn de restaurer la confiance perdue des Européens dans le système alimentaire et ses institutions soit justement de leur donner le droit de choisir. La fin de la querelle des OGM entre les blocs commerciaux des deux rives de ? Atlantique peut venir de solutions apportées par le marché et issues des consommateurs. Einkommenversicherung in der Europäischen Landwirtschaft Die Kennzeichnung von genetisch veränderten Lebensmitteln ist zu einer der bedeutendsten Streitfragen auf dem Gebiet des internationalen Handels geworden. Politische Entscheidungsträger und Verbraucher in der Europäischen Union scheinen dahingehend überein zu stimmen, dass der Einsatz von Biotechnologie in der Nahrungsmittel‐industrie kontrolliert werden sollte. Als Reaktion darauf hat die EU‐Kommission kürzlich einer Maßnahme zugestimmt, welche ein strenges Regelwerk für genetisch veränderte Organismen (GVO) festschreibt, mit der aber gleichzeitig das Moratorium für die Produktion und Vermarktung von GVO aufgehoben wird. Die neue Richtlinie beschäftigt sich mit der Pflichtkennzeichnung von genetisch veränderten Nahrungsmitteln und mit ihrer Rückverfolgbarkeit entlang der Nahrungsmittelkette. Trotz der erheblichen Anstrengungen, die verschiedenen Standpunkte in der eskalierenden Debatte um Biotechnologie zu berücksichtigen, scheint die neue GVO Richtlinie in den Augen (zu) vieler Interessengruppen unbefriedigend zu sein. Ein System der vollständigen Rückverfolgbarkeit vom Stall bis zum Teller und die Pflichtkennzeichnung von genetisch veränderten Nahrungsmitteln mag in der Umsetzung als zu komplex und zu teuer betrachtet werden, insbesondere von den Ländern oder Industriezweigen, welche seit vielen Jahren GVO‐Nahrungsmittel hergestellt haben. Dennoch könnte der Ansatz, den europäischen Verbrauchern die freie Wahl für oder gegen GVO zu gewähren, der einzig gangbare Weg sein, bis die Europäer ihr Vertrauen in das Produktions‐ und Kontrollsystem für Nahrungsmittel zurückgewonnen haben. Eine markt‐ oder verbraucherorientierte Lösung könnte letztlich den Streit um GVO zwischen den beiden transatlantischen Handelsblöcken beenden.     

中国粮食安全状况评价与战略思考

本文基于国际公认的粮食安全概念,构建了包括供给、分配、消费、利用效率、保障结果、稳定性、可持续性和调控力等8个方面的指标体系,对中国粮食安全保障的现状、趋势、问题进行了分析。结果表明,中国粮食安全当前处于较高水平且近年不断提升。中国粮食安全保障有多重优势,自给率、人均热量和蛋白供给等多项指标超过世界平均水平,甚至超过发达国家平均水平。中国粮食安全面临的主要问题是营养结构不合理、环境可持续性较差等。未来提高中国粮食安全水平要在保障粮食生产能力、稳定粮食产量的基础上,调整产出结构、采用环境友好的生产方式、重视需求管理、减少不舍理消费和损耗、适当降低储备率。     

Strategic Planning and Financial Performance in the Food Processing Sector

Research on the impact of formal strategic planning on firm performance has yielded mixed results. In this study, approximately 200 executives in five food processing industries were surveyed to examine the relationship between formal strategic planning and financial performance. A multiple indicator measure of strategic planning was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Results of the strategic planning–performance model indicate that use of strategic planning tools has a positive impact on financial performance as measured by the 3-year average pretax return on assets.     

EU Requirements for Food Safety and Quality Systems in Turkey: Determinants of Perceptions

Abstract

The European Union (EU) is one of Turkey’s most important trade partners. A large number of Turkish agri-food processors, however, are still unable to produce in accordance with the EU specifications. Furthermore, it is uncertain how Turkish food producers perceive the EU regulations. Based on a questionnaire survey of 99 Turkish agri-food enterprises from various industry subsectors and a conceptual framework including knowledge, personal and economic perspectives, this article assesses perceptions of the EU requirements regarding food safety and quality systems in the Turkish agri-food industry. The results indicate that those perceptions vary widely among the processors depending on education level, firm size, and legal form of ownership. Moreover, subjective information related to the perceptions regarding advantages, requirements, and costs of food safety and quality practices significantly contributes to the perceptions examined. The findings have manifold implications which should be taken into account when adapting Turkish legislation to reflect EU regulations.     

欧盟区域发展规划战略环境评价评介

研究目的:介绍欧盟结构基金和区域发展规划环境评价,为中国土地利用规划环境影响评价提供参考.研究方法:文献资料法.研究结果:欧盟战略环境评价分为6个基本步骤:(1)环境现状评价;(2)确定相关发展目标的可持续发展标准;(3)制定规划草案与替代方案;(4)规划草案的环境评价;(5)确立规划的环境指标;(6)将评价结果与规划和计划的最终决策结合起来.研究结论:欧盟区域发展规划环境评价技术方法对中国开展土地利用规划环境影响评价具有借鉴意义.     

Strategic Marketing Objectives in Mergers and Acquisitions in the Greek Food Industry

The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence of the effect of the type of ownership (foreign vs. domestic deals) on the objectives of corporate acquisitions in the Greek food industry, by reviewing the current literature and then analyzing a selected group of recent takeovers. In order to determine whether or not any effect did in fact exist, a set of twenty acquiring objectives were used on a number of possible strategic, marketing, financial and managerial goals. Analysis of these data indicated that, contrary to what would be expected from previous research Greek food mergers differ according to the nature of the deal (domestic vs. foreign).     

基于收入分层QUAIDS模型的广东省城镇居民家庭食品消费行为分析

基于2007～2009年广东省城镇居民家庭7类食品的消费数据,本文运用QUAIDS模型对不同收入家庭食品消费结构及其消费行为进行了分析。结果表明:首先,按照全部样本估算的城镇居民家庭乳品、油脂类和肉类等动物性食品的支出弹性大于1,与中等和高收入家庭相比,低收入家庭这三类食品的消费支出弹性也相对敏感;其次,在不同收入分层中,低收入家庭油脂类食品的消费价格弹性相对敏感;再次,当收入和价格同比例变化时,城镇居民家庭更愿意增加对肉类、蛋类和乳品的消费。因此,稳定食品价格、提高最低生活保障标准和最低工资标准等措施,是确保城镇居民家庭食品消费需求、营养摄入水平及生活质量的前提条件。     

基于SWOT+AHP方法的黑龙江省森林食品产业发展战略定位研究

在实地问卷调查的基础上,对黑龙江省森林食品产业发展所处环境进行了SWOT分析,并将分析结果进行量化,进而建立AHP模型以对该产业发展战略进行科学定位。模型研究结果显示:黑龙江省森林食品产业发展应选择机会型开拓战略。最后,提出对策与建议。     

Information Exchange and Strategic Behavior in Supply Chains: Application to the Food Sector

Information technology (IT) facilitates information exchange between retailers and suppliers. Based on evidence from food industry, information strategies under uncertainty are analyzed, using game theory. Some key results are under certain conditions, retailers withhold valuable sales data from suppliers even if this means less supply coordination; a revealed equilibrium exists where suppliers learn retailers' market data despite retailers' withholding of such data; this leads either to full information convergence or, surprisingly, incomplete information convergence with some informational asymmetry left; retailers with greater market power and numerous suppliers are more inclined to share, rather than to withhold, information.     

增加农民收入和确保粮食安全的战略对策

本文围绕增加农民收入和确保粮食安全这两大主题 ,从五个方面进行了针对性很强的研究 ,具有实践指导意义。     

我国绿色食品产业不同发展阶段对物流战略管理的需求研究

物流业与产业的发展阶段密切相关,不同类型的产业以及产业不同的发展阶段需要制定和实施不同的物流业发展战略。本文利用产业成长分析模型,认为中国绿色食品产业已进入成长阶段和第三方物流发展水平已成为影响绿色食品产业发展的重要因素,进而提出加强对物流业的战略管理、提高产业在国内外市场上的竞争优势等建议。