S.W.F. Omta

International agri-food chains and networks: management and organization.

Preface, 7 Part 1. Introduction Management and organization in international agri-food chains and networks, 15 J. Bijman, S.W.F. Omta, J.H. Trienekens, J.H.M. Wijnands and E.M.F. Wubben Part 2. Governance Does guanxi matter for vegetable supply chains in China? A case study approach, 31 H. Lu, J.H. Trienekens and S.W.F. Omta Is more vertical integration the future of food supply chains? Empirical evidence and theoretical considerations from German pork production, 49 B. Schulze, A. Spiller and L. Theuvsen Contracts in agribusiness: A survey in the Hungarian dairy sector, 65 G.G. Szabo and K. Bardos Part 3. Horizontal collaboration Producer groups as a form of entrepreneurship and a tool for strengthening the competitive position of private farms in Poland, 83 M. Adamowicz and M. Lemanowicz The role of producer organizations in the process of developing an integrated supply chain experiences from Quinoa chain development in Bolivia, 97 G. Ton and J. Bijman Horizontal cooperation among small and medium-sized supermarkets as a tool for strengthening competitivenes, 113 F.A. Ghisi, D.P. Martinelli and T. Kristensen Part 4. Supply Chain Management Logistics outsourcing in food supply chain networks: Theory and practices, 135 H.I. Hsiao, J.G.A.J. van der Vorst and S.W.F. Omta About the preparedness of dairy companies for ECR, 151 T. Obersojer and H. Weindlmaier. Using data mining to improve operations management in food supply networks, 163 Y. Li, M.R. Kramer, A.J.M. Beulens and J.G.A.J. van der Vorst Tailored improvement of supply chain processes in agri-food networks, 179 M. Fritz and T. Hausen Part 5. Power A power-based approach to the analysis of the food system, 199 V. Sodano Chain management challenges and market power in the Chinese fresh produce sector, 217 B.J. Revell and X. Liu Bargaining power in mango supply chains: An experimental gaming approach, 231 G. Zuniga-Arias, S. Meijer, R. Ruben and G.J. Hofstede Part 6. Performance Modelling the recall costs of consumption milk in relation to time, 259 A.G.J. Velthuis, C. van Erve and M.P.M. Meuwissen Alliances between wholesalers and retailers in the fresh vegetable industry, 269 J.H.M. Wijnands, W.B. Koot and S. Rosenkranz Part 7. Quality, safety and sustainability Hybrid forms in the supply of safe food, 287 G. Martino and C. Perugini Quality assurance and vertical alliances: Case studies in the UK and Brazilian beef chains, 303 M.D. de Barcellos, G.C. Ferreira and L.M. Vieira Vertical coordination, quality management and firm performance of the pork processing industry in China, 319 J. Han, J.H. Trienekens, T. Tan, S.W.F. Omta and K. Wang Improving quality and ecological sustainability of natural resources in international supply chains: The role of market-based incentives, 333 E. Kambewa, P. Intenbleek, A. van Tilburg and I. van der Lans Assessing and stimulating environmental pro-activeness in food supply chains, 343 D.J. Haverkamp, H.J. Bremmers and S.W.F. Omta. Part 8. Case studies Mapping and quantification of the milk chain in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, 359 M.F. Neves, M.A. Consoli, F.F. Lopes, E.M. Campos and H.A.B. Paiva Impacts of the rapid development of supermarkets on Chinas dairy industry, 373 D. Hu, F. Fuller and T. Reardon Organizational learning in the context of an agri-food chain, 387 A.J. Dunne Authors and affiliations, 403.

The value of guanxi for small vegetable farmers in China

Purpose – Following a guanxi value – buyer‐seller relationship quality – marketing behaviour scheme, this paper aims to explore how traditional guanxi supports small vegetable farmers in modern markets in China.Design/methodology/approach – Fieldwork was performed in Jiangsu Province, PR China. A stratified random sample of 167 vegetable farmers provided data for empirical testing with partial least squares analysis.Findings – The findings suggested that the value of guanxi networks is an antecedent to buyer‐seller relationship quality and marketing behaviour in China. Guanxi networks improve the quality of buyer‐seller relationships in terms of interpersonal trust and satisfaction. Buyer‐seller relationships influence smallholders transaction relationships, their participation in modern markets and choice for formal contracts. Guanxi networks not only support Chinese small‐scale vegetable farmers to get access to modern high‐value markets (e.g. supermarkets and international markets), but also encourage...

Influence of guanxi, trust and farmer-specific factors on participation in emerging vegetable markets in China

The fast development of market outlets (e.g., supermarkets, processing industries, international markets) in China provides rich opportunities for small-scale farmers to upgrade quality and increase income. However, the high level of transaction costs incurred in small-volume-based vegetable transactions hinders farmers from participating in these emerging markets. This article explores how personal relationships (called guanxi in China) and trust between farmers and their buyers influence transaction costs in vegetable transactions, and thereby also farmers’ participation in emerging markets. We interviewed 167 vegetable farmers in Jiangsu Province, which provided data for empirical testing using two-stage probit analysis with endogenous variables. The findings suggest that guanxi and trust effectively reduce transaction costs in vegetable marketing in China, which may help and encourage farmers to better participate in emerging markets. The results also reveal that farmers’ age, education, marketing experience, distance to the market, production scale and land quality influence transaction costs. The article ends with policy implications with respect to efficiently reducing transaction costs in vegetable supply chains in order to create a better environment for small-scale farmers in emerging markets in China.

The Role of Guanxi Networks in Vegetable Supply Chains: Empirical Evidence from P.R. China

This study attempts to empirically investigate how the concepts of relationship marketing affect market performance in Chinese vegetable sector. We interviewed 167 vegetable farmers and 84 processing and exporting companies to test our conceptual relationship model. Results demonstrate that personal relationships (called guanxi in China) significantly improve interpersonal trust and transaction-specific investments, which eventually show a significant impact on market performance. Results imply that the impact of guanxi networks differ on farmers and on companies. The study also reveals that transaction-related attributes (such as risk, channel requirements, and transaction conditions) influence trust, investment behavior, and market performance together with guanxi networks. The article ends with several managerial implications regarding the development of relationship marketing in China.

Guanxi networks, buyer-seller relationships, and farmers' participation in modern vegetable markets in China.

The aim of this study is to investigate the joint effects of small-scale farmers’ guanxi networks and buyer-seller relationships on their marketing behavior in China. A survey of 167 vegetable farmers shows that farmers guanxi networks have significant effect on trusting relationship building with buyers and on their investment behavior for transactional specific assets. Guanxi networks also help to improve farmers’ participation in modern high-value markets (e.g., supermarkets and international markets) and encourage relational transactions. Farmers’ modern market participation will be further enhanced by trusting buyer-seller relationships with buyers and complying with buyers quality requirements. The application of formal contracts, on the other hand, is closely related to farmers’ trusting relationships with buyers and transactional specific assets for vegetable transactions. Some policy implications are discussed.

The role of governance structures in supply chain information sharing

Information sharing in supply chains may result in concerns related to information security, information access privileges, and allocation of claimed benefits. To mitigate such concerns in order to efficiently and effectively share information, relationships among the supply chain actors need to be managed and effective governance structures need to be chosen. Despite initial research, a comprehensible supply chain analysis of the role of governance structures in information sharing is missing. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to investigate how and to what extent supply chain information sharing can be explained by supply chain governance structures. To take into account the multi-dimensionality of information sharing, the specifications of which information to share and how to share it are considered. Based on case study data from three European pork supply chains, we conclude that information sharing cannot be solely explained by governance structures. The results show that information sharing is apart from governance structures strongly determined by quality regulations, financial strength (power) of the chain partners, and the relationships that are aimed for. Consequently, our study challenges the general assumption that a more integrated governance structure is accompanied by more types of information shared through the use of automated information systems.

Building Collaborative Relationships with Distributors in the Dutch Potted Flower and Plant Industry

Abstract The objective of this paper is to discuss the impact of the information network and trust on collaborative relationships as well as the impact of the collaboration on the performance of suppliers (i.e., growers). Combining network and trust, growers can build collaborative efforts, namely joint action and the norm of flexibility. Network in this paper is analyzed in terms of its information that can support a supplier in coordinating the channel relationship. By means of trust, a grower and his distributor may have adequate mutual understanding and shared experience to creatively solve problems, set up effective planning and be flexible in the day-to-day management. The discussion is based on the network approach to channel relationships and considers elements of the transaction cost economics and marketing channels. One hundred seventy-five growers of the Dutch potted flower and plant industry answered the questionnaires about their relationships with distributors. This data was analyzed through structural equation modeling in Lisrel. The results show the safeguarding effects of the information network to encourage joint action and flexibility. Also, trust influences directly flexibility and indirectly joint action. Flexible growers achieve high profitability and growth rate. This study implies that the network and trust should be considered in making the decision about the degree of collaboration in a channel relationship. To achieve an efficient mechanism of coordination, managers need to draw special attention to the development and maintenance of trust and the network.