Meat safety as a tool of differentiation for retailers: Spanish and French examples of meat "supply chain brands"

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyse how the health crises have contributed to increasing the segmentation of the supply of fresh and little-processed food products under the impetus of a reinforcement of regulations (affecting the supply chain as a whole) and of strategies adopted by the stakeholders. Indeed, since several food crises have strongly affected the production of animal food products, food safety has become one of the most important aspects of quality products for both consumers and retailers. The authors carry out an empirical and comparative analysis of the reactions of two neighbouring countries (Spain and France) faced with major health crises caused by similar events: the emergence of BSE cases. A special focus is made on the initiatives taken privately by two French retail groups (Carrefour and Auchan) operating in both countries. The analysis shows that retailers have developed systems of quality insurance developed in order to reduce uncertainty and to restore consumers’ confidence in the quality of the products they buy. These programmes of actions pave the way for policies of product differentiation. In a relatively different context from that of France, the two big French retail groups Carrefour and Auchan operating in Spain have developed similar approaches, which had not been the case in France. The paper provide useful keys for a better understanding of the strategies of retailers (use of "supply chain brands" as tools of differentiation to ensure consumers’ loyalty, marketing communication) in a context of sharp competition and of relative dissatisfaction with respect to «minimum quality» standards.