The main aim of this study was to determine how chains of modern international retailers can achieve a competitive advantage (CA) by introducing private labels (PLs) in the organic category and can, in turn, stimulate the consumption of food produced with respect to sustainability principles. The research was conducted with the use of a qualitative approach and involved two steps. First, in order to select retailers with organic private labels (OPLs) and producers delivering products under OPLs, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with the representatives of management boards of 17 enterprises. Second, in order to analyze the assortment-based competitive advantage of the OPLs in depth, 8 enterprises were analyzed. In order to explore the price-related competitive advantage, three products offered under PLs, organic PLs, producer brands, and imported brands were selected for subsequent analysis. For retail chains, it was found that the introduction of OPLs is the source of CA via six contributors, namely, price, range of assortment, type of PLs, image of the retailer, sustainability and specific process, and product-related attributes of organic food. Extension of offers with organic private labels makes it easier for consumers to buy organic food at more affordable prices and follow the principles of proper nutrition and a sustainable diet with low environmental impact. At the same time, the international retailers can position themselves as chains contributing to more sustainable consumption.

Our study aimed to explore the factors limiting the development of the organic food sector in Poland from the perspective of processing, distributing, and retailing companies. We used a qualitative approach with in-depth semi-structured interviews with the management board representatives of 17 large- and medium-sized enterprises and the owners of 10 small and medium companies. The potential limiting factors, including legal, economic, technological, and environmental factors, were identified by reviewing the corporate and market reports of processing and retailing companies operating in the Polish organic sector. We used a thematic analysis recommended in the literature to analyze qualitative data. The main factors indicated by the managers were the legal concerns, limitations resulting from a lack of constant supply of organic raw materials, and increased competition on domestic and international markets. In addition, business activities in the Polish organic sector were affected by the instability of the financial situation in terms of financial liquidity, adequate cost, capital structure, and credits. The results of the study may be of value for policymakers to ensure sustainable development of the organic food sector in Poland.

Kody JEL D12, Z32, L83Słowa kluczowe produkt regionalny, produkt tradycyjny, młodzi konsumenci, promocja produktów regionalnych i tradycyjnych StreszczenieCelem artykułu była analiza znajomości i rozpoznawalności polskich produktów regionalnych i tradycyjnych wśród młodych konsumentów. Podstawę stanowiły dane uzyskane w wyniku badań przeprowadzonych metodą sondażu diagnostycznego w 2016 r. wśród 233 respondentów w wieku 18-34 lat. Uzyskane wyniki, aczkolwiek o charakterze pilotażowym z uwagi na liczebność próby, potwierdzają konieczność prowadzenia działań informacyjnych oraz promocyjnych w tym zakresie. Większe zainteresowanie wśród polskich konsumentów produktami regionalnymi i tradycyjnymi może przyczynić się do wpływu na zrównoważony rozwój obszarów wiejskich oraz do rozwoju turystyki w danym regionie. WprowadzenieKomisja Europejska wskazuje, że "UE posiada wspaniale zróżnicowane dziedzictwo kulinarne, które powinno być w pełni wykorzystane" (http://enrd.ec.europa.eu, 15.05.2017). W Polsce zwiększa się zainteresowanie konsumentów i producentów żywnością regionalną i tradycyjną, któ-rą wyróżnia przede wszystkim szczególna jakość (Gulbicka, 2014; Sieczko, 2008, za: Sobolewska,

The study aimed to analyse selected aspects of innovative activities of enterprises in Poland in 2016–2020. The article is based on literature studies, using a query of scientific publications and statistical analyses of data published by Statistics Poland and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (PORP) for 2016–2020. Findings show that in 2016–2020 the number of innovative industrial and service enterprises that primarily implemented innovations in business processes was increasing. The innovations included, in particular, processes of manufacturing products in industrial enterprises, as well as external and internal communication in service enterprises. Although the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the activities of the majority of surveyed companies significantly, the changes in the functioning of those impacted by COVID-19 caused a more frequent implementation of innovations in business processes than in the product processes. Innovative activities conducted in enterprises were financed mainly from own funds, including internal outlays for innovative activities of enterprises and funds obtained from government and local government institutions, most often used by the entrepreneurs to purchase fixed assets. The smallest share of outlays was allocated to the protection of intellectual property in enterprises, which is undoubtedly one of the most often underestimated areas determining effective protection of innovations in enterprises.

The aim of the study is to analyse the diversity of the innovation scale of particular voivodships in Poland as well as to present Poland’s innovativeness in comparison to other countries. The authors of this paper have carried out scientific studies and analyses, taking into consideration the data for 2010–2017, published, among others, by Central Statistical Office (Główny Urząd Statystyczny), the European Commission and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej). The scope of the analyses concerned the innovative activities of Poland against the background of other countries, in particular, the European Union Member States as well as the diversification of the innovative activity of entrepreneurs conducting business activity in particular voivodships in Poland. It should be noted that there is a significant regional differentation in this respect.