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The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a scale for measuring the uptake of process innovations by SMEs in the food industry, from a resource-based view perspective.

Based on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory and the existing literature, a measurement scale was proposed. The scale was then empirically validated through a survey of 315 SMEs. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were utilized for scale validation.

The findings suggest that the uptake of food process innovation can be measured from a resource-based view perspective, but not with respect to all dimensions of RBV. Particularly, the items related to value and inimitability of new food processing equipment and methods were confirmed as valid measures. Nevertheless, the findings do not confirm the validity of measurement items related to the rareness and non-substitutability of new processing methods and equipment.

The main limitation of this study is the lack of consideration beyond the resource-based view perspective. In this respect, it is worth validating this measurement scale using samples beyond the SMEs and in other countries. Furthermore, the statistical analysis is limited to EFA and CFA, which may be prone to the exploratory nature and subjectivity in factor selection.

The main contribution of this study is the development and validation of a scale for measuring the uptake of food process innovations. Hence, firms can utilize this scale to evaluate the efficiency of food process innovations in the quest for maximizing output. Furthermore, researchers can utilize this scale for further explorations and investigations on aspects related to the uptake of food process innovations.

The utilization of Resource Based View (RBV) opens a rather different approach for measuring process innovation from a resource-based view perspective. While the existing literature in the food industry has measured innovation from a general approach, this study offers a different approach by paying specific attention to process innovation from a resource-based view perspective.