FOOD HUBS AS TOOL FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GASTRONOMY: THE CASE STUDY OF DUBROVNIK

Abstract

As the planning profession begins to embrace food and agriculture as important opportunities for sustainable cities and towns, planners are searching for ideas that can be implemented at the local level. Food hubs are gaining popularity as a way to build strong local food systems and healthy communities. Food hubs are innovations in local food systems that serve as an alternative to the conventional food distribution system. Hubs help connect small farmers with local markets and increase food access for local residents. But it is clearly that focusing on the local cuisine as a tourist destination product is worthwhile. Food hub operators are skilled business people who have identified a challenge how to satisfy retail and institutional market demand to source from small and middle size producers and have deftly come up with regionally appropriate solutions that not only result in positive economic outcomes but also provide valuable services to producers and their wider community. Food hub operators represent a new kind of food entrepreneur, one that is increasingly demonstrating a financially sound business model that can be both market and mission driven. This paper examines the importance of the establishment of a food hub for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation in gastronomy, i.e. for the development of the gastronomic offer in Dubrovnik. The survey was conducted in June 2022 among 93 graduates of the School of Tourism and Hospitality to find out their opinion about the establishment of a food hub and whether they are inclined to become its users. Research has proven that most graduates would use food hub services and as such they are necessary for business creation and innovation in the food service industry.