Assessment of traditional food supply chain performance using triadic approach: the role of relationships quality
ISSN: 1359-8546
Article publication date: 16 October 2018
Issue publication date: 17 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The objectives of this paper were twofold: to explore if there are differences in the perceptions about supply chain performance (SCP) and relationship quality (RQ) among traditional food supply chain members, and to examine the influence of individual relationship variables and aggregated relationship quality on SCP in the traditional food sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey was conducted in a triadic context with 189 supply chain members (62 suppliers, 65 focal companies and 62 customers) of 65 traditional food supply chains (cheese, olive oil, meat products, brandies and liqueurs, wine and honey) in Croatia. The influence of individual relationship variables and aggregated RQ on perceived SCP was tested using regression analysis.
Findings
It was found that there were no significant differences in the perception of overall SCP and RQ among supply chain members. It was identified that aggregated RQ and all individual relationship variables (trust, commitment, economic satisfaction, non-coercive and coercive power, reputation and conflict) have a significant influence on perceived SCP of the traditional food supply chains.
Practical implication
This study provides a systematic approach to investigate the SCP and supply chain RQ in the traditional food sector. The findings suggest that managers should not neglect any aspect of supply chain relationship to keep high SCP and to be competitive on the market.
Originality/value
This multiple supply chain study makes an original empirical contribution to the supply chain and network management literature by using a triadic approach to investigate RQ and SCP. The influence of individual RQ constructs and aggregated RQ on traditional food SCP examined in this study has not been explored thus far. This study also makes an original empirical contribution by investigating RQ and SCP in the traditional food sector, which has received little attention recently.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments, which helped in improving the paper. The authors would also like to thank all the participants of this research (the traditional food producers, retailers and HoReCa members) for their effort and time. Special thanks from Dr Željka Mesić goes to Višnja Knjaz, Dipl. Ing., for all her valuable help (in memoriam).
Citation
Mesic, Ž., Molnár, A. and Cerjak, M. (2018), "Assessment of traditional food supply chain performance using triadic approach: the role of relationships quality", Supply Chain Management, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 396-411. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-10-2017-0336
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited