The internationalization process of Italian family firms in the food industry. Case study: Nonino S.r.l.

Abstract

Nowadays global economic scenario is normally associated with big multinational companies that dominate the market as impersonalized giants with corporate assets and resources that worth for billions. However, this popular image doesn’t fit reality because those giants are not alone, and very often they are not impersonalized but driven by family values since generations. The major part of organizations worldwide are in fact family firms. They constitute the most predominant form of organization and they are active in every sector. Their massive presence all over the world allow them to conquered throw decades a critical role in many countries, not only economically but also politically, turning them into important social engines that foster prosperity and welfare. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the internationalization process of the family firms and in particular to focus on those realities in which the family features are still very enhanced and influence the strategies in every step. As family firms have really particular features comparing to non-family firms they will show different characteristics in their internationalization process. The whole research will be finally applied to the food and beverage industry and, in particular, to the Italian spirits company Nonino S.r.l.