Sustainable Initiatives and Organizational Reshaping in Food Retailers

Abstract

This chapter analyses the adoption by large food retailers of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs targeted at employees and their families. The authors propose an exploratory research. A qualitative approach has been used to examine the emerging redefinition of the organizational approach to improve effectiveness of retail CSR initiatives. The multiple case study analysis is a useful research tool that investigates a contemporary phenomenon in its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. This methodology highlights nine different cases which explain some organizational tools to implement CSR in retail companies that operate in EU. Findings reveal the need for a redefinition of organizational structures and processes for implementing a successful CSR strategy in the retail sector. The selected cases show the importance of closer coordination among the organizational dimensions to implement CSR in retail sector. Some cases show a delay in the implementation of organizational tools and employee engagement.