Expansion Strategies for Local Food Enterprises

The overall objective of this project is to contribute towards increased value added in local food enterprises, by obtaining new knowledge about the conditions for expansion, and how the industries can solve challenges they face in different phases of exp ansion. Sub-goals: 1. Conduct an analysis to explore growth ambitions among local food enterprises 2. Conduct an analysis of firm-internal challenges in phases of expansion in terms of production, product development, certification processes, marketing, distribution and sale 3. Conduct an analysis of firm-external challenges in terms of networking and cooperation at different stages in the value chain, and between producers and other actors during growth processes 4. Propose strategies for maintaining c ompetitive advantages in production and products in an expanding enterprise 5. Identify conditions for success and propose different growth strategies 6. Propose more effective strategies for supporting those local food enterprises with growth ambitions The main research challenges will be to identify different possibilities for growth in local food firms, different challenges during growth processes for different strategies and conditions for a successful expansion strategy. Both qualitative and quant itative research strategies will be used. Local food firms selected for case studies will be invited to join two meetings in the reference group. There they have the opportunity to present and discuss own growth challenges and learn from other firms expe riences. Ideas and recommendations may increase the level of value added both for firms and farmers. Some results from the project will be analytic and possible to generalize, i.e. with potential for transferring the application to local food enterprises with growth ambitions all over the country. It is hoped that, among others, increased competence among actors in the support system joining the project will contribute to this process