Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to explore how the Italian wine industry discloses corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and quality certifications and the corresponding determinants via websites. The study also aims to investigate the relationship between CSR practices and financial performance. The information consistency between the quality certificates reported on corporate websites and official database statements is also explored. Lastly, the paper investigates how the relationship between the size of wineries and CSR disclosure changes according to firms' geographic location.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses CSR corporate communication via the websites of a sample of Italian wineries by adjusting the theoretical framework developed by Amran (2012) to the wine sector's peculiarities. Moreover, a cross-certification analysis and a moderation analysis were performed to fulfil the purpose of the research.FindingsThe analysis revealed the extensive use of CSR disclosure via websites. It was found that company size positively affects CSR disclosure and Quality Certification Disclosure (QCD), while geographic location slightly moderates the relationship between the two variables. In addition, a negative relationship between CSR disclosure and corporate financial performance and its reverse causality emerged. Moreover, for most wineries, information consistency between the quality certificates reported on corporate websites and official database statements was observed.Research limitations/implicationsThe study's main limitation is that the search process was performed during lockdown. Therefore, the examined issues could change in the near future due to the shift in priorities that the COVID-19 pandemic is determining.Practical implicationsThe results can help managers implement CSR disclosure and QCD practices to enhance stakeholder legitimacy and enable their companies to compete in strongly competitive international markets.Originality/valueThe paper represents the first study investigating online QCD and its consistency in the Italian wine sector.
Highlights
In recent decades, the need to orient production systems and consumption styles towards new innovative management models has increasingly been recognised
In order to improve the extent of the research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in this field, the present study investigates a new way of disclosing CSR practices and performance
The present paper has provided a manifold contribution to the current literature. It examines the state of online CSR disclosure and Quality Certification Disclosure (QCD) in the context of the Italian wine industry
Summary
The need to orient production systems and consumption styles towards new innovative management models has increasingly been recognised. The ongoing crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasised the need for both companies and consumers to adhere to the UN Sustainable Development Goals’ guiding principles as part of the 2030 agenda (Siva et al, 2016). Policymakers, legislators, financial institutions and influence groups are encouraging companies to communicate sustainable performance (Kolk, 2004) In this context, the wine industry is committed to implementing socially responsible practices, which could be an excellent opportunity for the overall sector (Cobelli et al, 2021). The need to fulfil stakeholders’ expectations has prompted an increasing number of wine companies to integrate CSR practices into their business strategies (Henson and Reardan, 2005; Hollebeek et al, 2007)
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