Food exporters and co-opetition relationships: an analysis on the vegetable supply chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the influence of co-opetition on food exporting in different distribution channels, taking as reference the vegetable farming-marketing sector in southeast Spain. Design/methodology/approach – The study analyses the data collected from vegetable exporters’ associations and the firms’ individual financial reports. A multivariate empirical model is developed to measure the impact of cooperation and competition relationships (both horizontal and vertical ones) on exporting. This model includes the influence of main buyers distinguishing basically between retailers and wholesalers. Findings – The results obtained show that diverse forms of collaboration with competitors, in both horizontal (such as logistics and research projects) and vertical dimensions (such as promotion and quality certifications) have positive effects on vegetable export propensity. These influences become more apparent when large retailers are the main buyers. Resear...

[1]  A. Abdulai,et al.  Choice of Coordination Mechanism in the Kenyan Fresh Milk Supply Chain , 2009 .

[2]  Francesco Schiavone,et al.  An experience‐based view of co‐opetition in R&D networks , 2011 .

[3]  K. Walley,et al.  Coopetition: insights from the agri-food supply chain , 2010 .

[4]  Dag H. Olsen,et al.  An empirical investigation of competency factors affecting e-business success in European SMEs , 2007, Inf. Manag..

[5]  M. Cao,et al.  Supply chain collaboration: Impact on collaborative advantage and firm performance , 2011 .

[6]  E. Galdeano-Gómez,et al.  Environmental Impact, Export Intensity, and Productivity Interactions: An Empirical Index Analysis of the Agri‐Food Industry in Spain , 2012 .

[7]  Rebecca J. Slotegraaf,et al.  Cross-Functional 'Coopetition': The Simultaneous Role of Cooperation and Competition within Firms , 2006 .

[8]  J. Bikker,et al.  Measures of competition and concentration in the banking industry: a review of the literature , 2000 .

[9]  Igor Filatotchev,et al.  Resource-Based and Institutional Perspectives on Export Channel Selection and Export Performance , 2013 .

[10]  Wojciech Czakon,et al.  Power asymmetries, flexibility and the propensity to coopete: an empirical investigation of SMEs' relationships with franchisors , 2009 .

[11]  G. Panne,et al.  Geography, knowledge spillovers and small firms’ exports: an empirical examination for The Netherlands , 2011 .

[12]  Léo-Paul Dana,et al.  The evolution of co-opetition in the Waipara wine cluster of New Zealand , 2013 .

[13]  Murat Erkoc,et al.  Production, Manufacturing and Logistics Impact of product pricing and timing of investment decisions on supply chain co-opetition , 2007 .

[14]  Devi R. Gnyawali,et al.  Impact of Co-Opetition on Firm Competitive Behavior: An Empirical Examination , 2006 .

[15]  Maria Holmlund,et al.  Cooperation With Competitors and Internationalization: Evidence From the West Coast of Finland , 2009 .

[16]  Herbert Kotzab,et al.  Value-adding partnerships and co-opetition models in the grocery industry , 2003 .

[17]  José A. Aznar-Sánchez,et al.  Intensive Horticulture in Almería (Spain): A Counterpoint to Current European Rural Policy Strategies , 2011 .

[18]  E. Galdeano-Gómez.  Exporting and Environmental Performance: A Firm-Level Productivity Analysis , 2010 .

[19]  David Greenaway,et al.  Firm Heterogeneity, Exporting and Foreign Direct Investment , 2007 .

[20]  J. C. P. Mesa,et al.  Notes About the Production and Supply-Demand of Fruit and Vegetables in the Countries of the European Union , 2007 .

[21]  Sören Kock,et al.  Co‐opetition: a source of international opportunities in Finnish SMEs , 2010 .

[22]  C. A. Benavides-Velasco,et al.  Cooperation, competition, and innovative capability: a panel data of European dedicated biotechnology firms , 2004 .