A history of De Beukelaer's Fabrieken, with specific reference to its corporate social responsibility (1885-1929)

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis analyses corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Belgium in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century by making use of a case study on the history of the biscuit company De Beukelaer's Fabrieken between 1885 and 1929. During this period De Beukelaer's Fabrieken managed to establish itself and its brand firmly in the international food industry and, besides its reputation for its products, also became known for its extensive CSR policy.The thesis analyses and determines the character of the CSR policy implemented at De Beukelaer's Fabrieken by examining the various forms of CSR the company practiced during this period, and which rested on three distinct pillars, namely welfare services, leisure, and educational initiatives. Both in terms of implementation and characteristics the company's policy was certainly not unique.In addition, the thesis also establishes some of the motives for the implementation of the De Beukelaer's Fabrieken's CSR policy by its owners and management. It is difficult to determine, however, what the exact reasons were for the implementation and development of De Beukelaer's Fabrieken's CSR. The company's policy was influenced by both the changes and developments that were occurring in its wider environment as well as the changes and developments that occurred within the company, its owners and its management; the company's CSR policy was thus a product of action and reaction, driven by both conscious as well as subconscious motivations that were influenced by various causes, both internal as well as external.By determining the character, nature and influence of the company's CSR policy, as well as the motivation behind it, the thesis attempts to gain a better understanding of this particular aspect of the company's history, an aspect that formed a significantly defining feature of De Beukelaer's Fabrieken between 1885 and 1929.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University