Typologie, déterminants et spécificités des alliances dans l'industrie agroalimentaire française

Abstract

Typology, determining factors and specificities of alliances in the French food processing industry. The evolution of co-operative inter-firm relations over the last two decades has given rise to an abundant literature, in the form of theoretical analyses or empirical studie as well. Nevertheless, the food processing industry has never been included in any specific work on strategic alliances. As part of an empirical approach using a database of 259 agreements reached between 1988 and 1997, this paper confirms that alliances are a significant feature of this industry and that they follow two main logics, i.e., a vertical logic of value chain and a horizontal one taking into account the market dimension. This analysis offers a classification of alliances and permits the comparison of these strategies with those observed within other industries. In particular, it highlights the need to take the spécifie characteristics of food processing activities into consideration, as well as the existence of particular technological constraints and innovation practices.