Prof.  Sayed  Saghaian
University of Kentucky,  USA

Title: Analyzing the Competitiveness of Iran's Food and Beverage Industry Using Porter's Diamond Model

Abstract:

The burgeoning global population fuels a rising demand for food, necessitating carefully examining the food supply chain and its operations. This surge in demand intensifies global competition within the food industry, driven by heightened consumer awareness. In Iran, the food and beverage industries have consistently strived to address these critical concerns and foster an environment for improvement. Despite facing numerous challenges, the industry has demonstrated resilience and achieved a degree of development. However, a scientific assessment of the industry's competitiveness requires a rigorous analysis utilizing established methodologies. This research employs Porter's Diamond Model to evaluate the competitive landscape of Iran's food and beverage industries. Data for this study were collected through a questionnaire in 2022. The findings reveal that while competitiveness within the food and beverage industry appears to be generally favorable regarding basic factors, approximately 43% of the factors investigated exhibit weaknesses. This suggests a potential risk of losing competitive ground, particularly if the industry fails to cultivate an environment characterized by "appropriate strategy, structure, and competition." Moreover, more effective measures are crucial to enhance support from related industries. The role of government intervention and the impact of unforeseen events must also be considered for further industry improvement. 

Key words: Competitiveness, Porter's Diamond, Food and Beverage Industry. 

Biography:

I am currently a Professor of Food and Agribusiness Management in the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. I teach an Agribusiness Management course to undergraduate seniors. This course is a capstone course for undergraduate students specializing in Agribusiness Management. I also teach an advanced version of the Agribusiness Management course for M.S. and Ph.D. students. 

My current research program concentrates on price determination of agricultural products along the marketing systems as well as the impact of food safety incidents on the food supply chain. My research focuses on market effects of food safety shocks, consumer behavior toward food safety incidents, and producers’ strategic responses to food safety events, in an environment of highly integrated monopolistically competitive agriculture and quality differentiated food industries facing frequent food safety incidents along the supply chain of agricultural products.