An assessment is made of the effects of strategic alliances, among other factors, on the performance of community-based food processing enterprises in the northern province of Thailand. Using survey data, we estimate a stochastic frontier production function and examine a number of factors affecting technical inefficiency of housewives groups focusing on the nature of strategic alliances. Our results show that vertical strategic alliances in marketing at the regional and provincial levels provide a means for housewives groups to increase productivity by attaining higher levels of technical efficiency through membership.

*Australian Beef Industry has evolved in: • Processing → A more integrated supply chain. • Quality evaluation system → Introduction of MSA grades. *Research Problem: • Eating Quality is guaranteed, but Product Information is low. • Small companies have survived by focusing on niches (Selling differentiated and branded products). • Large Australian beef-producing companies are not selling differentiated and branded products to Supermarkets. *The challenge for the industry → To develop a wider range of brands on a larger scale. Consumers could recognise different attributes, uses and origins. Is this possible?