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Identification, analysis and improvement of red meat supply chain strategies considering the impact of COVID-19 pandemic: a hybrid SWOT-QSPM approach in an emerging economy

Farshid Riahi Dorcheh (Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)
Seyed Hossein Razavi Hajiagha (Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Finance, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran)
Misagh Rahbari (Department of Industrial Engineering, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran)
Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi (Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji (Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK) (Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)

British Food Journal

ISSN: 0007-070X

Article publication date: 25 May 2021

Issue publication date: 2 November 2021

1304

Abstract

Purpose

In recent years, and especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the significant role of agriculture, specifically red meat, in household consumption has been increased. On the other hand, the lack of proper policymaking in the production and pricing of red meat and the lack of a comprehensive study on the beef supply chain has led to a reduction in the role of this protein product in the household food basket. Thus, in this research, comprehensive strategic planning considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been illustrated to overcome the aforementioned problems.

Design/methodology/approach

To study the intended objectives, first, using qualitative methods, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to the studied company's supply chain in Iran were identified and then using the SWOT-Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) technique, the surrounding strategies have been analysed.

Findings

The results indicate that the most important strength of the studied company is the “access to the red meat market of the retirement plan”; the most important weakness is the “lack of required and on-time funding, especially in the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic”; the highest-ranked opportunity is the “access to banking facilities” and the main threat to the company is the “COVID-19 pandemic limitations and health protocols”. In the same vein, by examining the attractiveness score of internal and external factors, it was observed that diversity and competitive strategies would have a higher priority. Finally, the QSPM illustrated that activating the full capacity of existing infrastructure has the highest priority.

Originality/value

According to the red meat supply chain and the link amongst different market levels, identifying, analysing and improving the beef supply chain is of particular importance. One of the threats facing the international community is the emergence of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires businesses to choose the right strategy to deal with the issue. Therefore, the main distinction of this study is to identify, analyse and improve the red meat supply chain of a real case due to the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Citation

Riahi Dorcheh, F., Razavi Hajiagha, S.H., Rahbari, M., Jafari-Sadeghi, V. and Amoozad Mahdiraji, H. (2021), "Identification, analysis and improvement of red meat supply chain strategies considering the impact of COVID-19 pandemic: a hybrid SWOT-QSPM approach in an emerging economy", British Food Journal, Vol. 123 No. 12, pp. 4194-4223. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-09-2020-0865

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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