A survey methodology was complemented with case studies because the structure of the
questionnaire did not allow for a detailed investigation into compliance of enterprises, even
though it allowed for the use of a sample to estimate population characteristics (Wright,
1997). The findings of the survey were inadequate in themselves to provide detailed
explanations of the responses given and hence case study method was used to make up for
this limitation (Yin, 2009).
The study was interested in the institutional arrangements that have impacted on the
current state of food safety and the response of food manufacturers to food safety
regulation in the UK Food and Drinks manufacturing sector. The study used certification to
food safety standards as a measure of compliance and as a shift from the dependence on
performance-based approaches to integrated approach to food safety management.