Marie Noelle Duquenne

What Are the Main Drivers of Young Consumers Purchasing Traditional Food Products? European Field Research

In this research, the attitude of European young adults (age 18 to 30 years) regarding their consumption of local and traditional products was examined. The survey was conducted on a sample of 836 consumers from seven European countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Denmark and France). Data collection was made by distributing a developed questionnaire through social media and university mail services. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify consumer perception comparing the overall sample with two subsets (consumers from Eastern and Western European countries). Six major factors were revealed: consumer behavior, uncertainty about health issues, cost, influence of media and friends and availability in store. Young adults had a positive attitude to local and traditional food products, but they expressed insecurity about health issues. Cost factor had less of an influence on interviewees from Eastern European countries than those from the overall sample (3rd and 5th factor accordingly). Influence of close environment was a different factor in Eastern countries compared to Western ones, for which it was common to see an influence from media. Females and older people (25–30 years old) have fewer doubts about Traditional Food Products, while media have a high influence on consumers’ decisions. The aim of this survey was to identify the consumer profiles of young adults and create different promotion strategies of local and traditional products among the two groups of countries.

Small and Medium Sized Firms’ Competitiveness and Territorial Characteristics by using a MLR approach

ABSTRACT:This paper investigates the importance of territorial characteristics on small and medium-sized firms’ (SMEs) competitiveness. The main argument arises is that the forces of the external environment, (the combination of) territorial characteristics (such as agglomeration economies, urban infrastructure, labor and cost factors, development policies, qualitative factors) are of extreme importance. So, this research focuses on the investigation of such an argument using empirical data, statistical and econometric analysis. The analysis is based on primary data collected through questionnaires from 374 firms located in Bari (Italy), Varna (Bulgaria) and Thessaloniki (Greece). These firms operate in the sectors of industry, commerce and services. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), a large set of territorial characteristics has been assessed allowing us to extract some important and comprehensive factors for firms’ competitiveness. Finally a multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was implemented in which the degree of firms’ competitiveness (Low, Medium, High) is specified as a function of the territorial components identified through EFA. Three categories of firms’ competitiveness are examined: competitiveness at national level, competitiveness against South-Eastern firms as well as North-Western firms. Independently of the sector of activity, most of the territorial characteristics have a positive impact on firms’ competitiveness appreciation. The implementation of MLR allows us to confirm that firms’ evaluation as regards their competitiveness is correlated with the capacity of the territory to offer a favorable business environment. The most important factor among those extracted from EFA is obviously related to the existence of research and development environment. For industrial as well as commercial firms, supporting services combined with agglomeration economies and urban infrastructures are the main factors reinforcing their competitiveness, especially at international level. The results provide particular policy directions for firms development at local level. The establishment of these policy directions based on the analysis and the characteristics of each economic sector is necessary in order local authorities and decisions makers can act by focusing to the specific needs of the market of the studied areas and not in a general way.

Evaluating consumer beliefs for traditional and localised foodstuff under economic stress

The aim of this paper is to examine the changes on food consumption patterns of households, following an economic crisis and recession. This paper identifies objective and subjective factors influencing consumers to purchase, or not, traditional and localised food. Furthermore, an impact assessment based on environmental and social criteria for food selection, like locality of production and healthy nutrition habits is conducted. Quite enlightening is the research on the spatial basis. The results of this approach signify the different consumption trends dominating the urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. There are also some implications for marketing and public policy makers to further strengthen consumption of traditional and locally produced foodstuffs, such as promotion of their nutritional characteristics, support of local economies, encouragement for adoption of healthy eating by children, as well as enjoyment of cooking.

Development policies and partnerships in Greece: experiences from Thessaloniki

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of specific local development policies and partnerships for SME enterprises in Thessaloniki one of the metropolis of south Europe. The two main research questions are: first, what are the most important development policies for firms’ development? and second, in what level these policies receive different significance from firms belonging in different production sectors? Design/methodology/approach - – In order to achieve the aims of the paper and answer the research questions, the study uses an extensive use of bibliography, and field research that has been implemented by administering questionnaires on a representative sample of 227 enterprises. The study comes up to valuable conclusions for the firms and the city through the use of exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis and clustering. Findings - – The present research brings on important issues and questions about local economic development because it presents directly the estimations and views of a large number of local enterprises that reflect the image of local economy. Finally, this research gives a satisfactory overview of the inner growth of Thessaloniki and further the results could lead to an evaluation, planning, implementation, rejection or reconstruction of specific actions and policies locally. Research limitations/implications - – The analysis is constrained by weakness since the sample of enterprises is rather small and the results concern only the enterprises located in Thessaloniki. Based on this fact, general conclusions can be drawed for other regions as well as for the whole Greece. This is subjected to more analysis. Practical implications - – The added value of this research is essential since there are only few similar researches in South-East Europe and in Greece. Especially, the relationship between local development policies and firms’ development competitiveness has not been studied enough in the area under consideration. Social implications - – Enterprises understand and designate the importance of specific policies that affect their development while at the same time through their evaluations they outline the character and dynamics of these policies in a unique dynamic, geographical and productive city like this of Thessaloniki. Originality/value - – The analysis showed that enterprises recognize as positive factor the effort of the local authorities to set the area as a business pole in favour of enterprises and the broader area but policy problems of organization and planning arise that concern mainly the operation and support of local enterprises and specific those from the tourist and service sector. This image raises issues of competence on planning and organization of development polices by the local authorities focusing on specific productive sectors so as the effect of these policies to be effective with positive results for enterprises.