Case study

: Casa Agrícola Assis Lobo : the changing world of SMEs in the wine industry

Abstract

This dissertation aims to understand how Casa Agrícola Assis Lobo, a small enterprise from Palmela, in Setúbal Region, was able to start its internationalization after a long restructuring process. The focus is to identify the entry strategies into foreign markets, and how the company has used its resources and capabilities, considering the natural limitations of a SME. Palmela is considered an important wine cluster in the region where the number of wineproducers is high, and competition is fierce. This creates huge gaps between major wine companies who can deploy aggressive market entry strategies and smaller ones where these strategies are out of reach. Casa Agricola Assis Lobo is an example of how innovation and sustainable practices can provide an edge in a saturated industry, and the importance of recourse efficiency to achieve competitive growth. Furthermore, there is a deeper look at the impact of Covid-19 and Climate Change, and how this has reshaped the company business operations and production practices. Climate Changein particular, will have unpredictable consequences, where the company has already been taking active measures to minimize these damages, and it’s providing valuable insights to stay competitive.

Date of Award	29 Apr 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Nuno Cardeal (Supervisor)