Examining Explorative and Exploitative Approaches of International Entrepreneurship in the Sustainability Performance of Food and Beverage: Evidence from Multinational Companies in Nigeria

Abstract

Sustainability performance has become a key concern for multinational enterprises operating in emerging economies, where firms face economic constraints, social expectations and environmental risks. This study examines how explorative and exploitative entrepreneurship influence the sustainability performance of multinational food and beverage companies in Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 226 managers across selected multinational enterprises and analysed through multiple regression. The results show that both explorative and exploitative entrepreneurship have statistically significant positive effects on economic, social and environmental sustainability performance. Exploitative entrepreneurship shows stronger effects on economic and social sustainability, reflecting the role of efficiency, refinement, resource optimisation and the effective use of existing capabilities. Explorative entrepreneurship shows a stronger contribution to environmental sustainability, indicating the relevance of experimentation, innovation and novel solutions in addressing ecological concerns. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial ambidexterity is important for multinational food and beverage firms seeking to integrate sustainability into international operations. Firms that balance exploration and exploitation may be better positioned to support economic resilience, stakeholder-oriented social practices and environmental responsiveness. The study contributes to the international entrepreneurship and sustainability literature by linking dual entrepreneurial orientations to distinct dimensions of sustainability performance in an emerging-market context.