The Food and Beverage Industry

Abstract

This chapter examines managers’ perceptions of, attitudes towards and approaches to the business case for sustainability in the food and beverage industry,¹ focusing mainly on the economic relevance of sustainability issues, stakeholders, value drivers and internal barriers. Our findings have been obtained from the following sources:

• Forty interviews with a broad range of senior managers at ten leading multinational food and beverage companies (Cadbury Schweppes, Chiquita, Danisco, Danone, Diageo, Kraft, Nestlé, Nutreco, Procter & Gamble and Unilever).

• Ten interviews with stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry associations.

• A questionnaire distributed to 17 sustainability or corporate responsibility officers (mostly senior managers based in Northern Europe).

• A questionnaire distributed to 115 other business managers in the sector (again mostly based in Northern Europe and 50 per cent of whom were either board members or senior managers).