Andrew Fearne

THE IMPACT OF SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERSHIPS ON SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE.

In this paper, We present a framework of buyer‐supplier relationships used in an empirical study to investigate how the development of more collaborative relationships between UK retailers and fresh produce suppliers, affects the financial performance of suppliers. Relationships between key partnership characteristics and performance are described and empirically tested. In addition, multivariate analysis is used to identify the dimensions of buyer‐supplier relationships that make the greatest relative contribution to the explanation of the performance construct.

Reconnection in the UK food chain: Bridging the communication gap between food producers and consumers

Purpose – This paper reports the findings of a research project that investigated the extent of the information gap that exists between the British agri‐food industry and consumers to help assist the industry in its efforts to re‐connect with consumers and the wider public.Design/methodology/approach – The first stage involved an information audit to examine the communication activities of the providers of information about food and farming, which was conducted using desk research and personal interviews. The second stage involved qualitative and quantitative primary research to examine the information needs and knowledge amongst consumers, one of the key target groups identified in the first stage of the project.Findings – The review of the communication activities of organisations in the agri‐food industry identified an extremely fragmented delivery to consumers and a distinct lack of resources to effectively communicate the information that exists and evaluate its impact on the attitudes, perceptions a...

Chapter 4 – Concepts of collaboration: supply chain management in a global food industry

Less than a decade ago, the days of the giant conglomerate seemed over; they were too big, too complacent and too inflexible. However, the US economy has grown fast since 1992 with many big organisations becoming flatter, less bureaucratic and hierarchical in structure. The big corporation of the 21st Century looks like being a loose alliance, a confederation of small entities, held together by knowledge and competencies, shared values and integrated missions. The edges of these amorphous organisations will become more fuzzy, but, their control, through patents and contractual agreements seems likely to grow. The knowledge economy requires ‘big science’ and only big corporations with big R&D budgets look likely to be able to afford it. Of course the human brain cannot continue to accommodate an exponential growth of knowledge and the 300 year old explosion of knowledge was flattening off by the 1960s. It is this diminishing returns to Research and Development that means the future belongs to the big corporation with deep pockets.

From commodity marketing to category management: insights from the Waitrose category leadership program in fresh produce

Looks at how Waitrose deals with commodity marketing and category management by examining its category leadership strategy, which aims to reduce costs and align its network to the needs of the consumer. Seeks to shed light on how this was achieved and the key lessons to be learned from this procurement strategy. Concludes that the category leadership strategy requires a fundamental shift in the role of the retailer and supplier as well as a redesign of the performance measurement systems, but once these are achieved there are significant and guaranteed rewards.

Modelling vegetable marketing systems in South East Asia: phenomenological insights from Vietnam

This article presents a conceptual framework for the analysis of vegetable supply chains in a South East Asian context and the role wholesale markets play in these chains. Following a review of the literature on food marketing systems in developing countries and preliminary fieldwork in South East Asia, a holistic framework is proposed, including what are perceived to be the critical factors in the development of improved fresh food marketing systems: domestic legal and policy factors, international trade policies and food markets, history, geography, and cultural and social norms. The particular role of trust and collaboration among stakeholders in the Ho Chi Minh City vegetable marketing system is highlighted.

Procurement best practice in the food industry: supplier clustering as a source of strategic competitive advantage

Looks at the way in which a pizza manufacturing company, supplying both branded and own‐label products to the Irish and UK retail markets, undertook a major restructuring of its procurement and manufacturing processes. Numerous sub‐processing activities were having adverse effects on capability utilization and manufacturing efficiency at a time of increasing demand. Process re‐engineering was required. Illustrates the approaches taken towards two projects: first, cheese supply and, second, packaging. Notes there was a steep learning curve for the management and operations staff and also resistance to change from within the firm and from some suppliers. Provides a list of critically important points learned from the experience.

Consumers' Perception of Risk: The Case of Beef Purchases in Irish Supermarkets

Purpose – For supermarkets in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the strategic importance of own label or retail brands is crucial, with sales of fresh beef almost exclusively sold under the retail brand. Given safety and quality issues, this study seeks to understand pre‐pack consumers perceptions of risk associated with beef in the Republic of Ireland.Design/methodology/approach – Building on previous qualitative research, and using a survey methodology and adopting a perceived risk theoretical framework, face‐to‐face interviews with purchasers of pre‐pack beef from supermarkets were conducted in Cork, Waterford and Limerick.Findings – The results confirm that for these particular beef purchasers, food safety and health issues are still the main concerns. However, perceptions of risk are reduced through loyalty to supermarkets, confirming that the investment by retailers in supply chain policies and strategies has paid off in terms of reducing customers perceptions of risk associated with food safety...

ALTERNATIVE MARKETING SYSTEMS FOR THE APPAREL WOOL TEXTILE SUPPLY CHAIN: FILLING THE COMMUNICATION VACUUM

Analysis of secondary data and information gathered from interviews with downstream wool supply chain members suggests that problems exist with the sourcing of raw wool for the apparel textile industry. Specific problems relate to hard attributes, such as contaminated fibres and fibre diameter, as well as soft attributes, such as origin of the wool and the nature of wool production systems. These problems may arise due to inadequate communication of quality attributes between chain members. The authors argue that more effective communication in the apparel wool supply chains requires the removal of functional silos, where supply chain members fail to look outside (upstream and/or downstream) their specific sectoral interests, and the continued dominance of the auction as the primary marketing system. The authors conclude that the apparel wool industry needs to co-operate to compete in dynamic, global markets increasingly dominated by synthetic fibres, in which vertically co-ordinated supply chains are the norm, auctions non-existent and communication is seen as a strength, rather than a weakness.

What price a “pinta”? Differentiating the market for liquid milk: Results of consumer research in the UK dairy sector

Since de‐regulation of the UK dairy market in November 1995, the UK dairy industry has lurched from one crisis to another, as milk prices initially rose to levels that were unsustainable for all but the largest processors and then fell to levels at which even the largest and most efficient dairy farmers are struggling to survive. Considerable emphasis has been placed in recent years on cutting costs in the dairy supply chain, yet little attention has been given to the scope for adding value, particularly for the benefit of dairy farmers. Against this background, the Milk Development Council commissioned a research project, from which this paper is drawn, to explore the scope for adding value to liquid milk. The results of the comprehensive consumer research undertaken provide clear evidence that opportunities exist for differentiating the liquid milk market. The research also underlines the strategic importance of consumer research in an increasingly competitive market environment.

Effective partnerships for agri-food chains: the impact of supply-chain partnerships on supplier performance in the UK fresh-produce industry

This paper presents a framework of buyer–supplier relationships used in an empirical study to investigate how the development of more collaborative relationships between UK retailers and freshproduce suppliers affects the financial performance of suppliers in such relationships. Relationships between key partnership characteristics and performance are discussed and empirically tested. In addition, multivariate analysis is used to identify the dimensions of buyer–supplier relationships that make the greatest relative contribution to the explanation of the performance construct.