Plan de comercialización de productos derivados de cacao en los emprendimientos de la EPS en el Cantón La Troncal.

Abstract

This research emerges from the need to analyze the comparative advantages of the cocoa sector in the La Troncal Canton to propose a plan for improving the marketing strategies of cocoa-derived products. In La Troncal, by 2023, six microenterprises legally operate producing cocoa derivatives; however, they face significant limitations in expanding their domestic and international markets due to deficient marketing strategies, weak management systems, and largely artisanal technology. In this research, the hypothesis regarding the improvement of the marketing plan for cocoa-derived products in the Popular and Solidarity Economy (PSE) ventures in La Troncal was contrasted using argumentative and descriptive techniques. The methodological foundations are based on a non-experimental design at an exploratory level, addressing field research techniques supported through interviews and surveys, supplemented with bibliographic research. The study involved interviewing six representatives from cocoa microenterprises, including a comprehensive set of 36 questions concerning both the dependent variable (demand) and the independent variable (components of the marketing plan). As a result, cocoa ventures in La Troncal lack a structured and documented marketing plan; instead, their approach relies more on intuition than technical expertise. In marketing decisions, entrepreneurs rely on their experience based on market behaviors. Therefore, based on the results of this study, it is predictable that the improvement or implementation of a marketing plan will positively influence demand.