Imbalances of chain performance: the case of the traditional food sector in the EU

Purpose: Measure chain performance in the traditional food sector and identify the main relationship measures determining performance. Methodology: Survey with 271 chain members from 91 traditional food chains from 3 European countries in 6 traditional food product categories. First 12 types of performance imbalances are distinguished and subsequently, cluster analysis is carried out. Finally, the nature of imbalances is linked to the quality of chain relationships. Findings: Three clusters are demarcated. Cluster one represents chains being characterized by higher performance of both suppliers and focal companies as compared to customers, while cluster three represents chains with high customer and focal company performance as compared to suppliers. Cluster two includes chains hardly including chain imbalances. Several relationship measures such as trust, conflict and reputation demonstrate discriminative power between the clusters. Research limitations/implications: The research is limited to traditional food chains. Practical implications: Our findings allow the identification of chain imbalances and as a result, allow chain members and policy makers to make specific and tailor made efforts to enhance performance at specific location of the chains, depending on the type of imbalance occurring. Originality/value: The shift to analysis of individual chains, horizontal comparison of chains and identification of chain commonalities may contribute to develop a new management theory.chain performance imbalances, chain relationships, traditional food, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

The role of network administrative organizations in the development of social capital in inter-organizational food networks

This paper is concerned with the role of network administrative organizations (NAOs) in the development of social capital in inter‐organizational networks aiming at supporting their members to innovate in the food sector through interacting with one another. A multi‐case study approach is used whereby three Belgian inter‐organizational networks are investigated i.e. Wagralim, R&eacute;seau‐Club and Flanders Food. Our study shows that there are many options available to NAOs to build social capital within the networks they are responsible for; options which we propose to categorize in three main distinct groups: creation of boundary objects, careful selection of members and effective communication.</p

Conceptual Framework for Measuring Supply Chain Performance: An Innovative Approach

The process of developing appropriate supply chain performance measurement instruments is difficult due to the complexity of supply chains. This paper presents an overview and evaluation of the performance measurement instruments used in supply chain models. As a result it advances a framework for developing an innovative supply chain performance measurement instrument which is generally applicable and which incorporates single organisational measures with inter-organisational and supply chain measures. The instrument distinguishes between qualitative and quantitative performance measures. Finally, it proposes supply chain satisfaction balance/ imbalance, as a qualitative supply chain performance measure.Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

Towards the Development of Innovative Strategies for Traditional Food Chains in the EU

Organizations no longer compete as independent entities, but as chains (Christopher, 1998; Cox, 1999; Lambert, Cooper, 2000). Consequently, chain strategies became more important in creating competitive advantage (Vickery et al., 2003; Gunasekaran et al., 2004). Despite the growing recognition of the importance of chain strategies, many chains active in the agri‐business sector still face difficulties in developing common chain strategies and implementing them collaboratively to generate additional mutual gains and savings. Chains lacking a chain strategy and having short‐term perspectives face difficulties in envisaging and implementing cooperative solutions to problems they cannot manage alone. Despite this recognition, the actual development of such chain strategies lags behind because of some particular issues which still need to be addressed (e.g. vision, mission, values or action plans). Therefore, the objective of this paper is to identify and consolidate chain members’ goals, to select a minimum set of key goals and to confront these chain goals with consumer preferences. This way, the paper develops the vision of traditional food chains in the EU, as a first step of strategy development. First, chain members goals are identified and consolidated with the help of approximately 100 stakeholders (suppliers, focal companies, customers) from three European countries representing 5 traditional food product categories (cheese, beer, dry ham, dry sausage and white pepper). The most important goals of traditional food chains are to maintain traditionalism, to improve responsiveness, to maintain superior quality and to create chain balance. These chain goals are tested against the perception of 4828 consumers from six European countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Poland and Spain). As a result, the vision of traditional food chains is developed: the European traditional food sector envisions a competitive sector maintaining the traditional character and superior quality of their food product(s) via more efficient and responsive chains where risks and benefits are distributed in a balanced way between the members.chain goals, consumer perceptions, traditional food products, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,