Scale and Scope of Cooperation Between Food Retailers and their Economic Condition

Abstract

Dynamic changes of economic structures resulting partially from globalization processes and international integration, strengthened by technological development induce economic entities to search for strategic as well as operational solutions that enable to gain and maintain competitive advantage. The statements seem to be especially important for retail trade entities that, apart from domestic competition, are forced to compete with retailers with foreign capital, that possess not only rich financial resources but also a lot of advantages in technical, organizational or managerial fields. Theoretical indication to improve such situation is to cooperate. In the paper there was taken an attempt to define scale and scope of cooperation between retailers functioning in podkarpackie voivodeship. There was verified a thesis about existence of relationship between cooperation activity and economic condition of the entities under research. Expectations of entrepreneurs who consider engagement in relations with their competitors were presented. Destimulants and stimulants of development of cooperation in trade were analysed as well. Conclusions in the paper were based on data extracted from the own research realized in the form of questionnaire survey in a group of 292 retailers functioning in podkarpackie voivodeship.