Export Success Factors for Table Olives: The Perception of Greek Exporting Firms

Greece has a long tradition as a producer of table olives and is the second largest producer and exporter of edible olives in the European Union. The current economic crisis in combination with the local market’ small size has forced Greek companies to expand to international markets the past few years.The aim of this research paper is to examine the perceptions of Greek table olive exporters, regarding export success factors. The qualitative research method was used and 7 interviews were conducted with well-established table olive exporters. The interviews are structured and in the first part the exporters’ profile is examined (export experience, size, quantities exported, trade partners’ characteristics). In the second part their perception regarding product's properties (taste, aroma, etc.). The last section examines the table olive exporters’ perception of the market trends (consumption patterns, market segments, etc.).