Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy
The food market is experiencing a period of deep tensions between farmers, food companies, and retailers across the world. This is particularly true in Italy, a Mediterranean country with a strong agricultural tradition and a great interest in the food market. The largest market weight in terms of f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/7/11/232 |
| _version_ | 1818505346582315008 |
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| author | Davide Arcidiacono |
| author_facet | Davide Arcidiacono |
| author_sort | Davide Arcidiacono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The food market is experiencing a period of deep tensions between farmers, food companies, and retailers across the world. This is particularly true in Italy, a Mediterranean country with a strong agricultural tradition and a great interest in the food market. The largest market weight in terms of food retail in Italy is held by national chains linked to the cooperative movement (Coop and Conad) that has promised to ensure more collaborative and less imbalanced relationships between producers and distributors, along with a stronger connection to the territory and socially responsible corporate management. The Coop is currently the biggest cooperative in Italy. Its increasing power in the Italian food retail system has caused it to behave like an oligopoly that has exploited its proximity to left-wing parties to obtain an advantageous position in some markets (ex: Emilia, Liguria, etc.). Equally alarming is a growing financialization which has led to the bankruptcy of CoopCa and Coop Operaie of Trieste, affecting approximately 20,000 investors. The recent crisis in food retail is redirecting firms’ strategies and producing new forms of food distribution such as Alternative Food Networks that are trying to restore the mission and values of the old consumer cooperatives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:49:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9fc706dd76442d99b94ce84f914413b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:49:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9fc706dd76442d99b94ce84f914413b2022-12-22T01:32:15ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602018-11-0171123210.3390/socsci7110232socsci7110232Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in ItalyDavide Arcidiacono0Faculty of Economy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 1, 20123 Milan, ItalyThe food market is experiencing a period of deep tensions between farmers, food companies, and retailers across the world. This is particularly true in Italy, a Mediterranean country with a strong agricultural tradition and a great interest in the food market. The largest market weight in terms of food retail in Italy is held by national chains linked to the cooperative movement (Coop and Conad) that has promised to ensure more collaborative and less imbalanced relationships between producers and distributors, along with a stronger connection to the territory and socially responsible corporate management. The Coop is currently the biggest cooperative in Italy. Its increasing power in the Italian food retail system has caused it to behave like an oligopoly that has exploited its proximity to left-wing parties to obtain an advantageous position in some markets (ex: Emilia, Liguria, etc.). Equally alarming is a growing financialization which has led to the bankruptcy of CoopCa and Coop Operaie of Trieste, affecting approximately 20,000 investors. The recent crisis in food retail is redirecting firms’ strategies and producing new forms of food distribution such as Alternative Food Networks that are trying to restore the mission and values of the old consumer cooperatives.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/7/11/232food retailcooperative movementsupply chainbuyer powerfoundational economy |
| spellingShingle | Davide Arcidiacono Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy Social Sciences food retail cooperative movement supply chain buyer power foundational economy |
| title | Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy |
| title_full | Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy |
| title_short | Promises and Failures of the Cooperative Food Retail System in Italy |
| title_sort | promises and failures of the cooperative food retail system in italy |
| topic | food retail cooperative movement supply chain buyer power foundational economy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/7/11/232 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidearcidiacono promisesandfailuresofthecooperativefoodretailsysteminitaly |