After succession takes place, family businesses either diverge from predecessors or maintain continuity. We know very little, however, about the processes and mechanisms that underpin these differences. Through a multiple case study of seven Dutch family firms in the food sector, we delve into the dynamics of incumbent-successor interactions and identify the tensions that shape differences in innovation paths. Our study uncovers four distinct innovativeness trajectories, explained by three forces: incumbent imprinting, successor self-determination in innovation, and the impact of the successor's past experiences on the innovativeness trajectory. The paper contributes to the literature on family business innovation post succession.
