Innovation in the Spanish food & drink industry

Abstract

This article examines the innovative performance of the Spanish Food & Drink Industry (F&DI). Results highlight the ‘evolutionary’ rather than ‘revolutionary’ nature of innovation activities in the Spanish F&DI. However, the adoption of ‘defensive/imitative’ strategies by Spanish F&D manufacturers raises important questions given the current manufacturer-retailer relationship with an increasing emphasis on innovation by food retailers when accepting/rejecting new products. The paper stresses the importance of in-house technological capabilities in innovation performance with a higher probability for Spanish F&D firms to be ‘truly’ innovative the higher their technological autonomy level.