Understanding Institutional Influences on Environmental and Social Responsibility in Family-Run Wineries : A look at US and Hungarian CSR practices

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of the research is to explain how and why the internal and external influences faced by family-run wineries affect their CSR practices and communication through institutional theory and stakeholder theory. Methodology – Ten wineries were analyzed in winemaking regions in Hungary and the US, of which nine semi-structured interviews were undertaken with family members and employees.  The research available implies that family-run businesses within the wine industry are regulated by institutionalism (Brundin & Wigren-Kristoferson, 2013). Therefore, institutional theory is applied to the analysis of the data. The lens of institutional theory uses three pillars, regulatory, normative, and cultural cognitive to identify the external and internal influences on these businesses.  Thematic analysis was utilized to code and analyze the data. In addition, the content of each interviewed winery is examined using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis is also applied to content provided on each winery’s website to back up the data. Findings –In Hungary, the use of sustainable production methods in wineries is part of the winemakers’ personal value system. In the US, wineries have a fierce commitment to the land. In recent years they have worked hard to communicate their sustainability practices. Winegrowers have incorporated modern and old-school practices addressing sustainability issues to meet the expectations of all stakeholders. Through institutional theory, it has been demonstrated that numerous drivers are influencing family-run wineries to implement environmental and social sustainability practices. However, there is a significant difference between these CSR practices and the need to communicate them between Hungary and the US. There is a significant difference between the communication methods of Hungarian and US wineries. In Hungary, there is little communication of sustainability practices, although there is movement towards more communication about sustainability practices since the introduction of the web and social media. The experience, in general, was that instead of communication, the emphasis is put more on living and working according to the principles of sustainability – whether it is environmental, social, or economic. In the US, the communication of CSR is used as a marketing tool to engage and educate their stakeholders, mainly through social media. Research implications –The implications of our research contribute to the knowledge of corporate social responsibility and how institutional influences affect social and environmental responsibility within family-run wineries by bringing the wine industry, family businesses, and CSR together under the analysis of institutional theory. The findings in this paper should be looked upon by family wineries as a resource related to the current communication of social responsibility in the wine industry. Research limitations – A limitation of this research is the lack of personal meetings with interviewees. Due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, the possibility of conducting the interviews face-to-face was not an option. The researchers were challenged to obtain more personal information about the familial, organizational structure without conducting multiple interviews, building trust and rapport.