Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine empirically the strategies for regional core companies in the building-up process of the wine cluster in Hokkaido. In this study, HOKKAIDO WEIN was selected as the case of a regional core company. This article suggests that the networking strategies by these companies have important influences on their heterogeneity and competitive advantages. They are technological innovators in the wine industry in Hokkaido. In the initial stage, HOKKAIDO WEIN had accumulated its organizational capabilities and developed strong relationships with its contracting farmers. Mutual trust between HOKKAIDO WEIN and farms was promoted through the policy to local produce product. Thus, regional core company improved the quality of the relational capabilities with their local farms. Our research identified that the symbolic action by the entrepreneur of the regional core companies had positive effect to upgrade their organizational capabilities. Therefore, this paper suggests that management philosophy and networking strategies of the regional core companies will play an important role in the building-up process of the wine cluster. In conclusion, it was observed that the strategies for regional core companies had realized the network management and sustained competitive advantage in their initial stage. Specifically, regional core companies exploited regional resources in the building-up process of the wine cluster.
