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Corporate Social Responsibility in franchise chains: Specificities, insights from French franchise chains’ CSD, and avenues for future research

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  • Le Bot, Corentin
  • Perrigot, Rozenn
  • Déjean, Frédérique
  • Oxibar, Bruno

Abstract

Although franchise chains are increasingly committed to environmental, social, and societal transitions, only a few researchers have focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the specific case of franchising. The aim of our paper is to discuss the specificities and challenges of CSR in franchising, explore how franchisors report on their sustainable practices, and emphasize subsequent directions for future research. In order to do so, we focus on the Corporate Social Disclosure (CSD) practices of twenty-two retail and service franchisors operating in the French market where regulations of non-financial information disclosures exist for large companies. Our findings show that these franchisors disclose rich and diversified information about their CSR activities. However, franchisors’ disclosures can vary significantly, especially depending on their chain size and whether they are subject to reporting regulations. Our research contributes to the literature on CSR in franchise chains, as well as the practice.

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  • Le Bot, Corentin & Perrigot, Rozenn & Déjean, Frédérique & Oxibar, Bruno, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility in franchise chains: Specificities, insights from French franchise chains’ CSD, and avenues for future research," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:66:y:2022:i:c:s0969698922000388
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.102945
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    2. Magno, Francesca & Cassia, Fabio, 2024. "Predicting restaurants’ surplus food platform continuance: Insights from the combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA and predictive model comparisons," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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