International competitiveness is a prime concern of food industries and governments around the world as they have come to recognize that freer markets pose new threats and offer new opportunities. This book provides a review of the current thinking on competitiveness, encompassing ideas from Porter's "Diamond of Competitive Advantage", Balassa's "Revealed Comparative Advantage", Dunning's analysis of international business, Italian analysis of industrial districts and Boston Consulting Group approaches. Issues raised will be addressed through six European case studies, chosen to provide representation in terms of food product sector, orientation and country type.

Innovation in new product development is a key factor in determining the success of a food company yet the area is fraught with risk, with failure rates in excess of 90% being common. Using a series of 12 European cases studies, this book examines the innovation process from agriculture through to retailer. Each example highlights a different aspect of innovation, and the lessons that can be learned from experience. It considers the important role that marketing as well as technical aspects play in the process.

Innovation in new product development is a key factor in determining the success of a food company yet the area is fraught with risk, with failure rates in excess of 90% being common. Using a series of 12 European cases studies, this book examines the innovation process from agriculture through to retailer. Each example highlights a different aspect of innovation, and the lessons that can be learned from experience. It considers the important role that marketing as well as technical aspects play in the process.

The obesity epidemic and the growing debate about what, if any, public health policy should be adopted is the subject of endless debates within the media and in governments around the world. Whilst much has been written on the subject, this book takes a unique approach by looking at the obesity epidemic from an economic perspective. Written in a language accessible to non-specialists, the authors provide a timely discussion of evolving nutrition policies in both the developing and developed world, discuss the factors influencing supply and demand of food supply, and review the evidence for various factors which may explain recent trends in diets, weight, and health.
The traditional economic model assumes people choose to be overweight as part of a utility maximisation process that involves choices about what to eat and drink, how much time to spend on leisure, food preparation, and exercise, and choices about appearance and health. Market and behavioural failures, however, such as time available to a person, education, costs imposed on the health system and economic productivity provide the economic rationale for government intervention. The authors explore various policy measures designed to deal with the epidemic and examine their effectiveness within a cost-benefit analysis framework. While providing a sound economic basis for analysing policy decisions, the book also aims to show the underlying limits of the economic framework in quantifying changes in public well-being.

The obesity epidemic and the growing debate about what, if any, public health policy should be adopted is the subject of endless debates within the media and in governments around the world. Whilst much has been written on the subject, this book takes a unique approach by looking at the obesity epidemic from an economic perspective. Written in a language accessible to non-specialists, the authors provide a timely discussion of evolving nutrition policies in both the developing and developed world, discuss the factors influencing supply and demand of food supply, and review the evidence for various factors which may explain recent trends in diets, weight, and health. The traditional economic model assumes people choose to be overweight as part of a utility maximisation process that involves choices about what to eat and drink, how much time to spend on leisure, food preparation, and exercise, and choices about appearance and health. Market and behavioural failures, however, such as time available to a person, education, costs imposed on the health system and economic productivity provide the economic rationale for government intervention. The authors explore various policy measures designed to deal with the epidemic and examine their effectiveness within a cost-benefit analysis framework. While providing a sound economic basis for analysing policy decisions, the book also aims to show the underlying limits of the economic framework in quantifying changes in public well-being.