Key Factors for Development of Export in Polish Food Sector

Abstract

Background: The accession of Poland to the European Union in 2004 facilitated increased exports of food products. It revealed a significant competitive advantage of Polish foreign trade in agri-food products compared to the countries of the “old EU”. After nearly 10 years of Polish membership in the EU, the food sector has still a considerable potential, fostering a further increase in exports. 
Objectives: The purpose of the paper was an attempt to establish the current determinants for the possibility to increase the exports of the Polish food sector and to identify potential opportunities and potential threats in the future. It was also decided to give an answer to the question whether any of the group factors has a greater impact on the development of exports than the other, and which issues play only a minor role in the development of international exchange.
Method: The analysis used involved the review of the relevant literature and forming a group of experts to specify the key factors of success in the food sector export. Basing on the experts research the STEEPVL analysis was carried out.
Results: It turned out that apart from a number of organizational, financial and marketing factors the most important are: the level of the IT infrastructure and the fluctuation of the demand on the international markets for the goods offered by the sector.
Conclusion: Therefore, the focus on the new distribution channels, integrated company management IT systems and changes in the demand on the market is the key challenge for securing the current potential and for the further development of the sector.