How Export Activities Are Developed and Managed in a Belgian Food Company: A Qualitative Case Study of Vandemoortele

Cooke, Emma Rachel (2026) How Export Activities Are Developed and Managed in a Belgian Food Company: A Qualitative Case Study of Vandemoortele. Other thesis, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember.

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Abstract

Many companies operating in small, open economies depend on international markets to grow beyond what their domestic market can offer. Belgium is a clear example of this: with exports representing around 84 per cent of gross domestic product, export activity is a structural reality for most Belgian firms. Understanding how export activities are developed and managed has therefore become increasingly important for both researchers and practitioners. This study investigates the export development and export management of Vandemoortele, a Belgian food group with revenues of approximately €1.984 billion and export activity covering 71 countries. Export is the primary focus of this research; other internationalisation modes are discussed only as contextual elements. The research examines export development through three analytical dimensions: managerial capabilities and decisions that influence export activities, the organisational structures that support them, and the Belgian institutional environment. A qualitative, exploratory case study design was adopted, using a semi-structured in-depth interview with one International Commercial Manager directly involved in export operations, complemented by documentary sources. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings show that successful export development depends on managerial capabilities, organisational support, the influence of the Belgian and European institutional environment, and effective management of export challenges and success factors. Together, these findings provide a practice-grounded understanding of how export activities are developed and managed in a Belgian food company context.
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Banyak perusahaan yang beroperasi di negara dengan perekonomian kecil dan terbuka bergantung pada pasar internasional untuk mencapai pertumbuhan yang melampaui kapasitas pasar domestiknya. Belgia merupakan contoh yang jelas, dengan nilai ekspor yang mencapai sekitar 84 persen dari produk domestik bruto (PDB), sehingga aktivitas ekspor menjadi bagian yang tidak terpisahkan dari kegiatan bisnis sebagian besar perusahaan di negara tersebut. Oleh karena itu, pemahaman mengenai bagaimana aktivitas ekspor dikembangkan dan dikelola menjadi semakin penting, baik bagi peneliti maupun praktisi. Penelitian ini mengkaji pengembangan dan pengelolaan aktivitas ekspor pada Vandemoortele, sebuah perusahaan pangan asal Belgia dengan pendapatan sekitar €1,984 miliar dan jangkauan ekspor ke 71 negara. Ekspor merupakan fokus utama penelitian ini, sedangkan bentuk internasionalisasi lainnya hanya dibahas sebagai konteks pendukung. Penelitian menganalisis pengembangan ekspor melalui tiga dimensi utama, yaitu kapabilitas dan keputusan manajerial yang memengaruhi aktivitas ekspor, struktur organisasi yang mendukung pelaksanaannya, serta lingkungan kelembagaan di Belgia. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus eksploratif. Data diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam semi-terstruktur dengan seorang International Commercial Manager yang terlibat langsung dalam kegiatan ekspor, serta didukung oleh berbagai sumber dokumentasi. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa keberhasilan pengembangan aktivitas ekspor dipengaruhi oleh kapabilitas manajerial, dukungan organisasi, pengaruh lingkungan kelembagaan Belgia dan Uni Eropa, serta pengelolaan yang efektif terhadap tantangan dan faktor-faktor keberhasilan ekspor. Secara keseluruhan, temuan penelitian ini memberikan pemahaman yang berbasis praktik mengenai bagaimana aktivitas ekspor dikembangkan dan dikelola dalam konteks perusahaan pangan di Belgia.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords: Belgian firm, export, institutional context, internationalisation, qualitative case study ============================================ Kata kunci: perusahaan Belgia, ekspor, konteks kelembagaan, internasionalisasi, studi kasus kualitatif
Subjects:	Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Z669.8 Bibliometrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business (CREABIZ) > Business Management > 61205-(S1) Undergraduate Thesis
Depositing User:	Cooke Emma Rachel
Date Deposited:	31 Jul 2026 01:56
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2026 01:56
URI:	http://repository.its.ac.id/id/eprint/140360

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