Open Access Conference Proceedings

The loyalty of customers in the current market environment is vital for businesses. Loyalty is enhanced by all activities and tools that increase the size of the customer perceived value, making customers interested in closer cooperation and strengthening their emotional ties to the company. In terms of manufacturing companies, it is important to choose appropriate tools depending on whether they are to strengthen the loyalty of direct customers (other manufacturers, distribution intermediaries) or end customers. The literature, however, deals primarily with sales support tools, other tools and methods of their use are dealt with to a lesser extent. It is also usually focused on building the loyalty of end consumers without being concerned with tools for enhancing the loyalty of direct customers. It is minimally dealt with how to develop cooperation in the context of multiple entities (in a chain/value network or part of it) so as to strengthen the loyalty of end customers, which is the foundation of prosperity of the network links and that of the network as a whole. Based on the results of a research in two companies producing food products, the article evaluates the tools used for building loyalty in relation to the distribution intermediaries and final consumers, and consequently suggests ways to improve the process of building loyalty.

Keywords: consumer loyalty, customer loyalty, loyalty programs, value network, food industry

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