Strategies of microenterprises dedicated to the elaboration of artisan cheese in the tropic of Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the strategy implemented by 19 microenterprises that produced artisan cheeses in the tropics of Mexico. The analysis was carried out by calculating a strategy index based on the detection of the actions that microenterprises implemented in the areas of collaboration, innovation, marketing channel, financial survival, differentiation, and consumer relationship, to compare the combination of strategies with those faced in a dynamic market. By means of a non-hierarchical cluster analysis, whose grouping variable was the strategy index by category, the behavior of each group of microenterprises was differentiated. Four mechanisms emerged from the combination of strategies that each group of microenterprises execute. It was concluded that, to remain in the market, these microenterprises have developed differentiated strategic actions, predominantly marketing channel, in three out of four clusters, and collaboration in two out of four clusters. No differences were detected between groups regarding actions related to financial survival and to differentiation.