An analysis of marketing mix elements in the business of small and medium enterprises dealing with NWFPs in the statistical region of Belgrade

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) appear as a raw material base for a range of final products used in the pharmaceutical industry, food industry, etc. In addition, along with the expansion of organic production, the importance of the NWFPs market has drastically increased, both at the regional and international levels. The aim of this paper is the analysis of selected marketing mix elements (product, price, promotion and distribution) in small and medium enterprises engaged in the purchasing, processing and marketing of NWFPs in the statistical region of Belgrade. The purpose of this research is to highlight the potential of NWFPs in commercial terms, on the basis of the knowledge obtained. The research object is the volume of purchase and marketing of the most important NWFPs in domestic and foreign markets. The research is based on a time series analysis through trend formulation, as well as the analysis of the selected marketing mix elements. An increase in the purchase of raw products can be observed over a six-year period, as a result of the enhancement in the purchase of forest fruits, while the purchase volume of other products remains largely the same. When product placement on the domestic market is concerned, an increase in the purchase of products can be observed, particularly in the last three years of the observation period, as a result of the increased placement of forest fruits on the market, while other products are subject to less fluctuation. The most common products in the statistical region of Belgrade are medicinal herbs, forest fruits and mushrooms. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. EVBR 37008: Održivo gazdovanje ukupnim potencijalima šuma u Republici Srbiji i br. TP 31041: Šumski zasadi u funkciji povećanja pošumljenosti Srbije