Abstract
PurposeThis paper explores the nature and operations of the supply chain that serves disadvantaged groups. With the increasing reliance on supplementary food provision through food aid, the authors seek to emphasise efficiency and sustainability in these supply chains.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interview data from 32 senior managers and experts from both commercial and food aid supply chains were abductively analysed to develop a relationship-based map of the food chains that serve disadvantaged groups.FindingsDisadvantaged groups are served by a hybrid food supply chain. It is an interconnected supply chain bringing together the commercial and the food aid supply chains. This chain is unsurprisingly plagued with various challenges, the most critical of which are limited expertise and resources, operational inefficiencies, prohibitive logistics costs and a severe lack of collaboration.Originality/valueThis study identifies the currently limited role of logistics companies in surplus food redistribution and highlights future pathways. Additionally, the authors present useful actionable propositions for managers, practitioners and policymakers.
Subject
Management of Technology and Innovation,Strategy and Management,General Decision Sciences
Reference35 articles.
1. Surplus retail food redistribution: an analysis of a third sector model;Resources, Conservation and Recycling,2008
2. Mapping sustainable tomato supply chain in Greece: a framework for research;Foods,2020
3. Benton, T.G., Froggatt, A., Wellesley, L., King, R., Morisetti, N., Nixey, J. and Schröder, P. (2022), “The Ukraine war and threats to food and energy security prices and supply disruptions”, available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/2022-04-12-ukraine-war-threats-food-energy-security-benton-et-al.pdf
4. Collaboration in a circular economy: learning from the farmers to reduce food waste;Journal of Enterprise Information Management,2020
5. Number of UK children in food poverty nearly doubles in a year to 4m;The Guardian,2023