Risk and resilience in agri‐food supply chains: the case of the ASDA PorkLink supply chain in Scotland

Abstract

Purpose -The paper examines one of Scotland's major pork supply chains and seeks to identify the key risks and challenges involved in developing a resilient agri-food supply system, particularly with regard to primary product supply, and to show how risk management and collaboration amongst stakeholders can increase chain resilience. Design/methodology/approach -The case study involved in-depth interviews with seven people involved in the chain and its management. Findings -Reduced supply chain vulnerability to risks arose through horizontal collaboration amongst producers, and vertical collaboration with the processor and retailer. Producers improved market and price security, and pig performance. For the processor and retailer the collaboration generated greater security of supply of an assured quality, improved communication with suppliers, and reduced demand risk as they could assure consumers on quality, animal welfare and product provenance.Research limitations/implications -The study's findings are based on the analysis of a particular supply chain, but the cooperative concerned currently produces over half of Scotland's weekly pig production. Practical implications -The findings are highly transferable to other agri-food supply chains. Producers' successful efforts to deal with different risks and the role of collaboration in enhancing chain resilience are illustrated. Originality/value -The case is interesting because pigmeat supply profitability has been under constant pressure. It discusses the risks faced by all chain participants and the collective development of a chain which is relatively resilient to variations in price, production and supply.

Managing Capabilities for Supply Chain Resilience Through it Integration

“…The collaboration benefits, commitments and compatibility issues are widely researched and provide theoretical and empirical evidence for the benefits of collaboration. Leat & Revoredo-Giha (2013) reduced supply chain vulnerability through horizontal collaboration amongst producers, and vertical collaboration with the processor and retailer. The collaboration generated greater security of the supply of an assured quality, improved communication with suppliers, and reduced demand risk as they could assure the consumers on quality, animal welfare, and product provenance; however, this particular research amplified more the supply chain design and redundancy concept and did not consider flexibility.…”

“…On the one hand, resilience can be achieved by reorganizing current resources quickly, which is a flexibility-based approach (Ponis & Koronis, 2012). Another approach is to increase the commitment of the chain by finding more suppliers and increasing the inventory level, which is called redundancy or increasing the robustness of the chain (Leat & Revoredo-Giha, 2013). Research analyses different capabilities that can help achieve supply chain resilience.…”

Effect of Transportation Distance on Weight Losses in Pigs From Dehydration

“…In addition, package of information about real conditions from producers and consumers, provide base to decisions concerning actually welfare, safety, environment and the cost of production (DAWKINS et al, 2012). On the other hands, with the growing concern about food systems, the food supply chain has a challenge to management the food safety, sustainable, and meet consumers' expectations (LEAT & REVOREDO-GIHA, 2013). …”

“…Quantifying losses and wastes that happens along productive food chain has been a constant challenge for researchers (RITTER et al, 2009;TEMPLE et al, 2011;DAWKINS, 2012;LEAT & REVOREDO-GIHA, 2013;REIS et al, 2015). The index for losses in meat production in Latin America is near 22%, and 1% refers to the pre-slaughter logistics (FAO, 2011).…”

Marketing Channels and Competitiveness of Maize in Serbia

“…In Serbia, maize consumption ranges between 4,5 and 5,5 million tonnes and is satisfied from domestic sources, which indicates that the national produce is of high quality and that there is a scope for exports (National Agricultural Programme of the Republic of Serbia, 2010; Torriani et al, 2008). Consistent policies on efficient marketing channels at the macro and micro levels, as well as the supply-demand balance, are matters to be researched further (Leat & Revoredo-Giha, 2013). Furthermore, there is a long-term tendency of absolute and relative growth of circulation costs and trade markups in the area of agri-food products.…”