Co-operative Wineries in Italy and Spain in the Second Half of the Twentieth Century: Success or Failure of the Co-operative Business Model?

The evolution of the co-operative wine sector in traditional wine-producing countries in southern Europe, such as France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, presents similar historical features in the first half of the twentieth century. However, the analysis of their current state shows that Spanish co-operatives are smaller in size than their French and Italian counterparts. Additionally, the analysis shows that Italian (and French) co-operatives have adopted a more modern business model. The main target of this work is to establish the reasons behind the differences between the Spanish and the more successful Italian co-operative wine sectors. This is carried out through comparative analysis and the examination of the development of both sectors. For this, the framework of the co-operative business life cycle is used.