Explore the vast range of titles available.

Nowadays, an increasing number of consumers are demanding more information and more direct contact with food producers in order to avoid the various intermediaries in the supply chain, thus improving food traceability and price transfer. This has led to the development of more direct (short) food supply chains (SFSCs). Although consumer preferences to use SFSCs rather than traditional (long) supply chains have been widely researched in the literature, this study brings a new approach with the use of social media sites to build online SFSCs. A focus group approach with a total of 32 participants was used in this study with the main objective to understand consumers’ awareness and acceptance of SFSCs. Special attention was given to the use of social media and electronic word of mouth (eWOM) as new approaches to support the creation of such alternative channels.

Since 2014, the Quality Standard for Iberian meat, leg ham, shoulder ham and dry-cured loin has regulated production factors and processes involved in the raw material and manufactured products from Iberian pigs, the most important pig breed in both population size and economic importance of the southwest Iberian Peninsula. Regarding the changes to the Quality Standard that industrial entrepreneurs and farmers are currently demanding, a qualitative research study has been developed through 14 in-depth interviews with the purpose of understanding the perception of Iberian pig farmers and industrial entrepreneurs of the requirements of the currently-e_ective Quality Standard, as well as the conditions under which this is being applied. The results showed a consensus amongst the majority of the participants in aspects such as the maintenance of the breed base as 100% Iberian for reproductive females, weight and age requirements at the time of slaughter for the montanera category and the manufacturing lengths for dry-cured products. On the other hand, there were discrepancies between the requirements defined by the Quality Standard and those requested by the respondents for the non-free-range fodder-fed and free-range fodder-fed categories, with the industrial entrepreneurs and farmers being inclined towards the reduction in the age of slaughter of the former and the distinction in the production conditions of the latter.

La publicación de la legislación española sobre normas de calidad que regula los productos cárnicos de cerdos ibéricos ha supuesto la certificación obligatoria del sistema de producción, piensos y raza en el sector porcino. El estándar está diseñado para garantizar la calidad del producto final, evitando los fraudes que pueden haberse producido anteriormente, aprovechando la heterogeneidad del producto. Tradicionalmente, las etiquetas de Denominación de Origen Protegida ofrecían la garantía y seguridad del consumidor, pero esta función ha sido asumida en gran medida por los Estándares de Calidad. En este contexto, es necesario estudiar el conocimiento de los consumidores y la valoración de estos dos indicadores de calidad. Se ha observado que, aunque los DOP son más conocidos que los estándares de calidad, los consumidores están dispuestos a pagar solo una pequeña prima por los productos ibéricos con un DOP. Por lo tanto, las PDO deben reorientarse para proporcionar un valor agregado al producto.

Le secteur alimentaire est le créneau porteur de l’industrie espgagnole. Les consommateurs espagnols achètent des produits alimentaires provenant de différentes sources, distribués surtout à travers les circuits traditionnels/longs. Cependant, il y a des segments de consommateurs toujours à la recherche d’une relation plus directe avec les producteurs, car ils veulent être informés de l'origine et du mode de production de ces produits. Ainsi, traiter directement avec les consommateurs en créant des circuits courts d'approvisionnement alimentaire pourrait être une excellente occasion pour les petites et moyennes entreprises. Dans ce contexte, l'augmentation sensible de l'utilisation des médias sociaux offre aux producteurs la possibilité de construire de nouvelles chaînes courtes pour promouvoir et vendre leurs produits d'une manière directe, rapide et peu coûteuse. Les avantages des réseaux sociaux sont divers: ils peuvent contribuer à réduire les marges du marché en améliorant la vente directe; ils facilitent l´identification du profil des clients, leurs préférences et la manière dont certains produits sont perçus.