Factors Influencing Business Relationships in Agri-Food Chains

An Analysis of Selected German Chains in European Comparison
Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-3-8441-0004-4
Verlag: Josef Eul Verlag GmbH

Buch, Englisch, 230 Seiten, PB, Format (B × H): 148 mm x 210 mm, Gewicht: 370 g

German agri-food businesses are facing a changing business environment. New developments at the national and international level present challenges and opportunities for German agri-food supply chain businesses, from farmers to retailers. One way to deal with these challenges and exploit the opportunities is to improve the quality and the stability, i. e. the sustainability, of supply chain relationships among farmers, processors, and retailers.

To appreciate the role of business relationships and communication in German agri-food systems, a thorough understanding of governance structures and the sustainability of business relationships, as well as the key driving forces behind them, is necessary. However, extensive research on governance structures and the sustainability of vertical business-to-business (B2B) relationships in the German agri-food sector has been scarce so far. Against this background, the main objective of this study is to generate implications for the development of improved B2B relationships. This is pursued by exploring the reasons for adopting more collaborative and formal governance structures and the determinants of sustainable business relationships in selected agri-food chains.

This study encompasses a theoretical approach, a secondary research of national statistics, expert interviews, and a survey of farmers, processors, and retailers.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Reynolds, Nikolai

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Fertigungsindustrie Lebensmittelindustrie, Nahrungsmittelindustrie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Primärer Sektor Agrarökonomie, Ernährungswirtschaft

Über Autor(innen)

Nikolai Reynolds studied at the University of Bonn Food Economics and received his Master of Science in 2003. After being employed for two years in the industry, specializing in SMEs and in Entrepreneurship Research, he worked as a research associate at the chair of Agricultural and Food Market Research of the University of Bonn and was a coordinating consortium member of the EU commission co-funded research project FOODCOMM. During this time the author worked on his dissertation having a focus on market research and business relationships in the food industry and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, for instance the European Review of Agricultural Economics and the British Food Journal. 2010 he received his doctoral degree from the University of Bonn at the Chair for Agricultural and Food Market Research and is now employed in the market research industry.