Michael Bourlakis

The evolution from corporate social responsibility to supply chain responsibility: the case of Waitrose

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the evolution from corporate social responsibility to supply chain responsibility via the examination of Waitrose, a leading UK food retailer. These two concepts differ substantially and illustrate contrasting approaches in terms of social responsibility development and application.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study methodology is used where managers from Waitrose and its suppliers, industry experts and representatives from professional bodies are interviewed. An observation of an ethical audit with a Waitrose supplier was also conducted.Findings – Findings show an example of good practice in the area of corporate social responsibility in the supply chain and illustrate the substantive progress that can be made in achieving supply chain responsibility. At the same time, the paper provides the specific challenges in developing from a corporate social watchdog approach to one in which the power in the chain is more balanced and where a holistic ap...

Food supply chain management

Preface. Foreword. Contributors. 1. Introduction to the UK Food Supply Chain: M. Bourlakis and P. Weightman. 2. The Food Consumer and the Supply Chain: D. Marshall. 3. Perceived Risk and Product Safety in the Food Supply Chain: M. Brennan and S. Kuznesof. 4. Procurement in the Food and Drink Industry in the Early 21st Century: J. Allinson. 5. The UK Livestock System: D. Harvey. 6. UK Crop Production: S. Wilcockson. 7. Food Manufacturing: D. Hughes. 8. Food Retail, Wholesaling and Catering: J. Dawson. 9. Partnerships and Alliances in UK Supermarket Supply Networks: R. Duffy and A. Fearne. 10. New Product Development and Information Technology in Food Supply Chain Management: The Case of Tesco: M. Francis. 11. Third Party Logistics in the Food Supply Chain: A. C. McKinnon. 12. Temperature Controlled Supply Chains: D. Smith and L. Sparks. 13. Factors Influencing Supply and Demand for Organic Foods: G. Butler, H. Newton, M. Bourlakis and C. Leifert. 14. The US Food Supply Chain: J. R. Stock. 15. The Future of the Food Supply Chain Management: C. Bourlakis and M. Bourlakis. Index

Integrating logistics and information technology strategies for sustainable competitive advantage

Purpose – To investigate the integration process of retailers information technology strategy within logistics strategy and to find out those aspects of the retailers distribution and operational performance that are mostly influenced via that integration.Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study methodology is used where the managers of the major domestic and multinational firms operating in the Greek food multiple retail market are interviewed. The integration process of the information technology and logistics strategies of these retail firms is linked to their relevant distribution and operational functions. Secondary data for the Greek food multiple retail sector are also employed.Findings – The findings show that logistics and information technology strategies are developed and implemented in a parallel way by both local and multinational food multiple retailers in Greece. A financial ratio analysis carried out for these firms, suggests that multinational firms possess greater operati...

Information technology safeguards, logistics asset specificity and fourth‐party logistics network creation in the food retail chain

Purpose – To investigate the evolutionary process of the retail logistics network formation, and to propose a relationship framework between the logistics asset buyer (the retailer) and the logistics asset supplier (the third‐party logistics firm).Design/methodology/approach – The evolutionary process is based on the way the asset specificity element of transaction costs theory can be perceived by the logistics asset buyer and the logistics asset supplier. The asset specificity element is linked to both network and buyer‐supplier relationship theories with the aim of conceptualising a buyer‐supplier relationship framework. Secondary data for the UK food retail chain are also employed.Findings – A new relationship framework is developed based on the buyers’‐suppliers’ perceptions in relation to logistics asset specificity, and the conditions required for the formation of the retail logistics network are illustrated. If transaction costs are perceived as high by both the buyer and the supplier of a logistic...

Supply chains and supply networks: distinctions and overlaps

Purpose – Although supply chain management is now an established field, the distinction between supply chains and supply networks is relatively immature and requires further investigation. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the distinction between supply chains and supply networks. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a review of the literature and assisted by input from academic experts during a relevant supply chain management workshop, this paper critiques seminal and extant theoretical developments in the field of supply chain management. Findings – The main contribution of this paper is the development of an outline classification of relevant dimensions where the concepts of supply chain and supply network are compared and their distinctive features are highlighted. The paper identifies strategic opportunities emanating from considering both the supply chain and supply network, and the associated levels of engagement with active and inactive members in terms of, inter alia, complexity, members...

Assessing export performance in the Greek food and beverage industry: An integrated structural equation model approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and estimate an integrated empirical model of export performance. The paper aims to adopt an eclectic approach, which synthesises the literature to identify key determinants and then applies the model to Greek food and beverage exporters.Design/methodology/approach – This paper identifies the determinants of export performance from a literature review. An integrated structural equation model is then developed to estimate the directions and magnitudes of their interdependencies.Findings – Results show that the determinants of export performance are the export marketing mix, entrepreneurial orientation, trade barriers and export problems. In turn, the export marketing mix is indirectly determined by export market attractiveness, export competencies, and management.Practical implications – The multidimensional approach of this paper provides for a more integrated understanding of export performance than many of the partial studies found in the literature hith...

Pig in the middle: farmers and the delivery of farm animal welfare standards

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the attitude of UK pig farmers to the delivery of improved farm animal welfare standards and to investigate how they contribute to this objective through their membership of a range of different farm assurance schemes.Design/methodology/approach – The analysis focuses on three main groups of pig farmers: farmers engaged in conventional farm assurance schemes; farmers participating in specific animal welfare schemes; and certified organic farmers. In total 54 farmers were interviewed about their participation in farm assurance schemes and their attitudes to animal welfare and towards the retailers and consumers they supply. Each answer was analysed individually and a list of themes identified for each type of scheme. These were compared and synthesised in an overall analysis.Findings – The analysis identified how differently or similarly the different groups of farmers viewed the issues related to animal welfare. The findings revealed that, while farmers sh...

Deliberate and emergent logistics strategies in food retailing: a case study of the Greek multiple food retail sector

According to the “classical” school of thought , the implementation of a firm’s strategy can be the result of a deliberate and rational process, or alternatively an emergent and non‐intentional one. The rising importance of logistics in retail strategy, and, in particular, the impact of centralisation of logistical activities upon the development of a retail logistics strategy, necessitates an in‐depth examination of the relevant company actions. This paper identifies which strategic approach is followed by domestic and multinational firms that operate in the Greek food multiple retail sector. The findings point out the major importance of warehousing in multinational firms’ logistics operations and the vital role of logistics in multinational retailers’ strategy. Multinational firms follow a deliberate logistics strategy that leads to increased logistics efficiency when compared to domestic firms that follow the emergent logistics strategy.

Value chain analysis in the UK beef foodservice sector

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to discuss the results from a UK government‐funded applied research programme on value chain analysis that examined the beef foodservice sector. The demands and dynamics of this sector differ markedly from those of the supermarket, which is the dominant channel for beef produce and which forms the focus of the existing literature. This is a challenging environment for the application of collaborative supply chain improvement principles because of its high level of regulatory control, power relationships and low profit margins. Design/methodology/approach – This is an applied research project that was case study based and employed the value chain analysis method. Empirical work was conducted over an 11‐month period and included a one‐week whole‐team study tour to Argentina. Informants encompassed UK and Argentine livestock producers, an Argentine meat processor, a UK meat import operation, a UK meat processor, a UK foodservice distribution centre and two foodservice restaurants. Findings – The paper concentrates on the key findings pertinent to the upstream members of the above chain. It highlights specific supply chain waste elimination opportunities at both producer and processor level. It also establishes valuable learning points for the UK beef industry as a whole. Originality/value – This study represents the first holistic and non‐partisan study of its type within the UK beef industry. This paper adds to the limited body of knowledge on supply chain management within the foodservice sector. It also provides the first explanation and analysis of its kind on supply chain operations within the Argentine beef industry. It quantifies the magnitude and nature of the cost advantage afforded the Argentine producer over its best practice counterpart. Finally, it presents a number of reflections upon the implications of this study for the concept of best practice and also the Lean paradigm.

Transfer of brand knowledge in business‐to‐business markets: a qualitative study

Purpose – This paper presents the approach of a one‐to‐one relationship for branding in business‐to‐business markets. With qualitative evidence, the paper seeks to clarify the links between branding, relationship marketing and purchase intention of resellers and to discuss the contribution of brand personified as brand representatives to the brand knowledge of resellers. The aim of this paper is to understand how this transfer of knowledge by brand personified as representatives of the brand is reflected in the selection process of brand for resale by resellers.Design/methodology/approach – The theory is used to develop a testable model. Information from the field was gathered through 12 in‐depth interviews of brand managers of international IT brands. These interviews helped to give a deeper insight into the topic and contributed to the categorization of different themes to be developed into constructs. Components that emerged from the interviews were from different disciplines and were useful in making ...