The meat and meat products sector belongs to one of the strategic and key sectors of the food industry in the Slovak Republic. Meat and meat products are considered basic foods that are consumed by Slovak consumers. Of the food group, pork and poultry have the widest consumption. From the point of view of dietary properties, price relations, availability or speed of preparation, poultry meat and meat products appear to be the most consumed with a view to the future. In the context of the above, the aim of the paper is to point out the current market of poultry meat and meat products in Slovakia in terms of production and consumption, as well as to identify consumer behavior. Based on the results, it can be stated that the production of poultry meat has an increasing tendency and currently reaches 13 kg per capita. Poultry consumption in the Slovak Republic has been rising rapidly in recent years and exceeds the recommended dose by almost 100%. These are also confirmed by the results of the survey, which shows an annual consumption of more than 30 kg. In terms of factors, the quality, price and freshness of purchased and consumed meat are the most important for consumers. In view of future developments, it is necessary to appeal to the quality of the meat consumed, as well as to aspects relating to health recommendations, the environment, sustainability, or animal welfare

Consumers have started looking for non-traditional types of beer with a specific taste and aroma usually offered by craft breweries. These breweries are characterized by brewing various beer specialties from special types of hops and yeasts. They differ from industrial breweries by brewing technology, production volume and the duration of the beer production process. This paper evaluates the development of beer consumption and describes consumer preferences with an emphasis on craft beer in the Slovak Republic. We analyzed the development of beer consumption per capita in Slovakia in the period from 2010 to 2019. For collecting data related to consumer behavior, we used a questionnaire which was realized on the sample of 281 respondents. We examined dependencies between places of beer consumption, factors affecting beer purchasing, consumer preferences with emphasis on craft beer consumption and selected demographic characteristics using different statistical methods. Domestic and foreign craft beer from small breweries is more preferred by men and by consumers living in cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants. It is most popular among respondents in the age category from 26 to 40 years. Usually, the price of craft beer is higher than the price of beer produced by industrial breweries. We assume that consumers from 26 to 40 years old are the most economically active and therefore they can afford to consume more expensive beer. Due to changes in consumer preferences and lifestyles, we anticipate an increasing interest in the consumption of craft beer. Changing consumer habits can generate new opportunities in the beer market and initiate to production of innovative products.

Research background: The main goal of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is to support farmers and improve their productivity. Agriculture is a specific sector of the economy, characterized by income support for farmers to ensure the availability of quality food. However, the question remains whether Slovak farms are financially healthy under the influence of the reformed CAP of European Union (EU)? Purpose of the article: The main goal of the article is to evaluate the financial health of Slovak farms using selected prediction techniques pointing to the impact of the CAP of EU. Methods: We have used data obtained from the financial statements of Slovak farms in the years 2009-2020. The financial health of farms will be assessed using selected generally constructed models of multivariate discriminatory analysis (Altman Z-score, IN 05, Creditworthiness Index, Taffler model), but also prediction models that have been specially constructed for the Slovak agricultural sector, such as G-index and CH-index. To detect the statistical differences between the years 2009-2013 and 2014-2020 in the value of prediction models of farms were used statistical t-tests of conformity in the surveyed sample. Findings & Value added: The results can be evaluated on two levels. The first of them is a look at the analysis of the financial health of Slovak farms in the context of the interpretation of the regulations of the Common Agricultural Policy of EU. The second output is an evaluation of the financial health of farms in the selected time period.

Meat consumption has been growing globally in recent years and consumers can choose from a wide range of meat products. However, meat quality and health aspects are often discussed. The aim of the paper is to point out the development of meat consumption in Slovakia and to examine gender differences in poultry, pork and beef consumption, as well as to identify the importance of quality and health in meat choice. Data related to meat consumption in Slovakia for the last 10 years were evaluated and a consumer survey was conducted in Slovakia on a sample of 1,409 respondents, of which 1,372 were meat consumers. Using mathematical and statistical methods, it was pointed out the increasing meat consumption, as well as gender differences in meat consumption with an emphasis on higher poultry, pork and beef consumption by men compared to women. The results further showed that meat quality is considered equally by men and women, and key indicators are meat origin and composition. Furthermore, women prefer the consumption of Slovak meat and choose meat products based on the meat content, emulsifiers, proteins, water and fat content, while men focus on the meat content, emulsifiers and proteins. It can be also concluded that men respect the health principles in meat consumption less than women, and women are more afraid about food scandals and meat adulteration, which may negatively affect meat quality and safety. The results of the study provide valuable information for scientific research purposes, for meat companies and for consumers.