Exploring the potential of local food and drink entrepreneurship in rural Wales

Abstract

This paper presents an interdisciplinary investigation into local scale case studies from across rural food and drink-based activities including microenterprises that produce and widen markets for local foods and drinks including food tourism initiatives. Case study analysis is used to investigate first, how entrepreneurship may translate policy into means of addressing a range of social and economic challenges of rural communities in Wales and second, the broader contributions that rural entrepreneurship and social enterprises have made in delivering sustainable local food and drink-based initiatives that have broader community value added. The context for case study analysis includes discourse on equitable and appropriate development, partnership working and community decision making and empowerment within the governance framework of One Planet Wales Sustainable Development commitment. This analysis is timely given current directions in European funding towards broader rural development and the promotion of food and drink heritage based rural tourism by Welsh Government as a tool of choice for ensuring rural wellbeing.

Rural social enterprises in Europe: A systematic literature review

“…through CO 2 reductions, increase of biodiversity, nature conservation, recycling, sustainable agriculture) and environmental awareness (e.g. through educational programs) are the two main impacts shown by the studies reviewed (Hudcová et al., 2018; Jacuniak-Suda and Mose, 2014; Keech, 2017; Ludvig et al., 2018; Thomas Lane et al., 2016). It is worth noting that several of the reviewed studies demonstrate that social enterprises deliver all and/or a combination of these different impacts (e.g.…”

“…It is worth noting that several of the reviewed studies demonstrate that social enterprises deliver all and/or a combination of these different impacts (e.g. Gordon, 2002; Jacuniak-Suda and Mose, 2014; Okkonen and Lehtonen, 2016; Peric and Djurkin, 2014; Sonnino and Griggs-Trevarthen, 2013; Thomas Lane et al., 2016). As Jacuniak-Suda and Mose (2014: 37) point out, impact delivered by rural social enterprises is ‘not only limited to one aspect (economic, social or environmental) but covers mainly two or three dimensions concurrently’.…”

Craft breweries and local place development – Perspectives from a Scandinavian context

“…This study underlines the recent and extensive growth in the number of craft beer breweries in the US, Australia and Europe (Garavaglia and Swinnen, 2018; Gatrell et al, 2018). The increasing consumer interest in quality and craftsmanship opens new market spaces for small firms focussing on the quality of their output (Lane et al, 2016), as well as new forms of entrepreneurship, such as those that transform a passion (i.e. home brewing, see Olson et al, 2014) into remunerative and job-creating economic activity (Fastigi et al, 2015).…”

“…These studies tend to elevate how craft breweries often collaborate locally with other craft breweries and food producers in order to resist large industry domination and to stay independent, thereby often deviating from the traditional and more aggressive growth strategies, applied in a lesser degree among craft breweries than in other business sectors (Cabras and Bamforth, 2016; Cunningham and Barclay, 2020; Nave et al, 2022). The place orientation in earlier craft beer studies is often connected to neo-localism; exemplified by customers’ interest and desire for the local and authentic, in elevating local place names by using them in branding and marketing (Eberts, 2014; Flack, 1997), or in spatial branding as a measure for competitiveness (Gatrell et al, 2018; Lane et al, 2016). Argent (2018) pinpoints the large focus craft brewers have on contributing to local place development, and Cappellano et al (2023) even labels some breweries ‘local development agents’ due to their intense local community engagement.…”

International Scientific Conference "New Challenges in Economic and Business Development – 2023: Recovery and Resilience" : Proceedings

“…Diversification of economic activities to a certain extent relieves traditional industries in rural areas, helps to cope with various social and economic challenges. For instance, a study in Scotland on the production and distribution of local food allowed the identification of impacts of different scales and types in the local community and region (Thomas Lane, Jones et al, 2016). If until now spatial accessibility or proximity has served as the most important factor for promoting competitiveness and introducing innovations, which are mostly associated with cities, then the results of current research reveal the impact of various creative activities and companies (e.g.…”