Missions of Russian Cheese Producers: Principal Components and Relevance for Rural Communities

Vladimir A. Ermolaev, Dmitry A. Ruban, Natalia N. Yashalova, Natalia A. Latushko and A.J. (Tom) van Loon
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Vladimir A. Ermolaev: Department of Commodity Science and Expertise, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Stremyanny Lane 36, Moscow 117997, Russia
Dmitry A. Ruban: Department of Management, Higher School of Business, Southern Federal University, 23-ja Linija Street 43, Rostov-on-Don 344019, Russia
Natalia N. Yashalova: Department of Economics and Management, Business School, Cherepovets State University, Sovetskiy Avenue 10, Cherepovets, Vologda Region 162600, Russia
Natalia A. Latushko: Department of Economic Sociology and Regional Governance, Institute of Sociology and Regional Studies, Southern Federal University, Pushkinskaja Street 160, Rostov-on-Don 344022, Russia
A.J. (Tom) van Loon: College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, Shandong, China

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Russia is one of the largest cheese producers in the world, which requires the well-balanced strategic management of all organizations involved. The content of ten mission statements of Russian cheese producers is analyzed by means of identification of the principal components according to the ’standard’ Pearce–David scheme. The analysis shows that the statements tend to deal with a variety of aspects, include, on average, 3.5 components; the most common components are philosophy (higher tasks of business) and product. These strategic declarations should be judged as modern and reflecting the strength of the Russian food industry and agriculture. Although it might be expected that the mission statements of Russian cheese producers should refer to rural communities, particularly since some of the enterprises are located in nationally important areas of milk agriculture, this expectation is only partly correct. The statements often deal with environmental issues, but ignore local social aspects. Cheese production opens perspectives for joint eco- and rural tourism development, which requires that cheese be considered as a kind of heritage. This is not the case in the mission statements under study, however, even though ideas about heritage value are implicitly present. The outcomes of the present study may have practical implications for Russian cheese producers, and emphasize the need for strategic management studies concerning cheese-producing organizations.

Keywords: business philosophy; dairy products; food heritage; regional studies; rural life; strategic management; tourism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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