Cooperatives' performance relative to investor-owned firms: a non-distorted approach for the wine sector

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether significant performance differences between cooperatives and investor-owned firms (IOFs) may exist.Design/methodology/approachBased on data from a sample of Italian wine firms for the period from 2009 to 2018, an adjusted measure of performance called earnings before interests, taxes, depreciations and amortizations gross the raw materials cost was adopted to consider the different objectives of cooperatives relative to those of IOFs.FindingsEmpirical evidence shows that in the context under analysis, cooperatives have performed better than IOFs.Originality/valueDespite the theoretical literature suggesting that the cooperative form of organizat…