Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the innovation performance of food companies from Brazil with regards to four innovation capabilities. Design/methodology/approach A research study was carried out on a sample of 120 Brazilian food companies. A conceptual framework of innovation capability was adopted to estimate the relationship between development capability, operations capability, management capability, transaction capability and the innovation performance of food companies. The empirical test was made with partial least squares analysis. Findings Results revealed that development capability and transaction capability have a substantive impact on the innovative performance of firms, while the findings indicated neither operations capability nor management capability was significantly related to the innovation performance of firms. Practical implications If innovations are considered one of the major sources of profitability for the firm, the findings of this study indicate ways to improve food companies in this issue. According to the results, efforts directed to technology development capability and transaction capability can significantly impact for the innovation performance. Originality/value Considering the overall manufacturing industry from Brazil, the food industry represents the biggest in economic and social impact for the nation. This quantitative empirical study fills an important gap in research by discussing innovation in an industry with a strategic role in the development of the country and to attend the global demand by food.

This paper aims at identifying the different arrangements of innovation capabilities for firms with different levels of R&D investment. The four innovation capabilities model (development, operations, management and transaction) by Zawislak et al., (2012) was crossed with the three level-low, medium and high-R&D intensity classification by Legler and Frietsch (2007). A multiple regression was applied on data from a survey of 1,331 Brazilian manufacturing firms, results clearly show different arrangements of innovation capabilities for each level of R&D investment. Operations capability does not generate innovation performance in any level. Development capability becomes increasingly relevant to performance, as R&D investment increases, on the other hand, management and transaction capabilities turn to be less prominent.

Purpose -This study identifies how Brazilian agricultural machinery manufacturers combine different capabilities to innovate. This industry has the potential to increase productivity in agriculture, a sector that is notably relevant in Brazil, one of the main food and agricultural commodities producers in the world.Theoretical framework -Firms were approached through the lens of a four innovation capabilities model (development, operations, management and transactions). Previous research about innovation in the machinery and equipment industry was examined in depth to support the results obtained.Design/methodology/approach -To identify the combinations of innovation capabilities, the fuzzy-set QCA (comparative qualitative analysis) technique was applied. Data were collected through a survey, conducted with 103 Brazilian companies. Findings -Agricultural machinery manufacturers innovate through two combinations of capabilities: development, operations and management (DC*OC*MC), or operations and transactions (OC*TC). Innovation emerges when excellence in manufacturing is complemented by improvements in existing products and in managerial processes (DC*OC*MC), or in negotiation skills and commercialization processes (OC*TC).Practical & social implications of research -Previous research had already identified that the machinery and equipment industry of emerging economies is focused on production-related enhancements. However, the present study demonstrates that this is not sufficient for firms to innovate. As a practical implication, we indicate two paths for agricultural machinery companies to achieve high innovative performance.Originality/value -Research about innovation in the machinery and equipment industry generally aims to only understand how firms develop new products and production processes. This study fills a gap by approaching this industry through broader lenses, demonstrating the relevance of new managerial and transactional process development for these firms.