Cold supply chain of leafy green vegetables: a social network analysis approach

Abstract

Purpose Cold supply chain technology is critical for extending the shelf life of perishable leafy green vegetables. This study aims to investigate the concept of managing leafy green products using cold supply chain technology and visualise the findings. Design/methodology/approach Using expert interviews and data visualisation approaches, this study examines how organisations deal with the complexity of cold supply chain processes and networks. Thematic data analysis was conducted. Two types of software were used to accomplish the research objectives. The first software used AntConc version 3.5.8 with word frequency (N-gram) analysis, whereas the second software, VOSViewer offered co-occurrence network visualisation and cluster analysis. Findings The findings show that the appropriate design of cold chain technology is critical in ensuring the freshness and quality of leafy green vegetables. The primary goal of managing the complexity of the cold supply chain is to achieve product freshness and energy efficiency. Regardless of the importance of energy efficiency, cold supply chains require warehouse management solutions for transportation and storage. Practical implications This study found that proper design and selection of appropriate technology in the cold supply chain have driven the companies to improve the firms’ competitive advantage while delivering the best quality of perishable leafy green food products. In addition, the freshness, quality, safety, and health of leafy green vegetables will be determined by the company’s capacity to handle long-distance transportation and select the appropriate distribution channels and storage. Warehouse management system technology was found to be secondary compared to cold chain technology, although distribution and warehousing practices are critical for supply chain performance. Originality/value This study has established the conceptual indicators based on best practices and outcomes for the cold supply chain. This study argued that cold supply chain management and performance should be monitored independently. Furthermore, the theory of technological adoption can be expanded to include product nature as a driver. Finally, this study has established cold chain best practices based on a perishable supply chain perspective. The findings of this study can promote healthy foods to solve zero hunger and achieve sustainable development goals. Although this study demonstrates that technology improves supply chain practises, cold storage and logistics benefit the most from technological advancements. In contrast, non-cold supply chains benefit from technology-driven improvements in performance.

Social Network Analysis: Applications and New Metrics for Supply Chain Management—A Literature Review

“…In turn, Pedroza-Gutiérrez and Hernández [41], through the study of a fish production chain, explained that SNA makes it possible to create a structure to understand the nature and dynamics of the relationships between the actors, mentioning that network changes can increase competitive advantage. This aspect is also referred to by [44], who explained that network design is essential to guarantee the quality, freshness, and safety of vegetables. Therefore, a company must pay attention to its distribution channels.…”

“…Of the 30 articles reviewed, 2 of them did not resort to the metrics presented in Table 2. Shaharudin and Fernando [44] used an SNA approach to study the cold supply chain of leafy green vegetables. They conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 individuals from 4 companies within the cold supply chain network in order to understand the best practices in the field derived from word association.…”

“…Among the sample articles selected, 21 apply cross-sectional approaches (Ref. [44] is not included in Table 2, as no metrics were presented, although the authors focus on the analysis and visualization of the cold supply chain network). A total of eight articles performed longitudinal studies.…”

“…Another area where SNA has been applied is the area of agriculture or those related to food production. Examples of studies addressing this field include [15,18,23,36,41,44].…”

The Path from Green Innovation to Supply Chain Resilience: Do Structural and Dynamic Supply Chain Complexity Matter?

“…This is consistent with ongoing discussions about the intricacies of sustainable supply chain management, but it goes further by specifically emphasizing the various challenges involved in actually putting it into practice. Shaharudin and Fernando [170] conducted a study that delves into the intricate nature of cold supply chains for perishable products, highlighting the critical role of technological and logistical advancements in enhancing resilience and sustainability. This study enhances the overall discussion by offering specific insights on how organizations can effectively manage the challenges of cold supply chains through innovative strategies.…”