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This research attempted to establish the underlying dimensions of supply chain management practices, blockchain technology and supply chain performance in the Indian dairy industry. Additionally, the study proposes a conceptual model that shows the mediating effects of blockchain technology in the relationship between supply chain management practices and supply chain performance.

Structural equation modelling (SEM) is incorporated to examine the proposed model using SPSS and AMOS version 24. The study population includes 119 registered Indian dairy processing units operating in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi (source: Dairy – India). Individual registered dairy processing unit's top four executives, that is Head of the Dairy Processing Plant, Supply Chain head and Marketing Head, and IT head are chosen as the respondents of the study, which renders the sample size of 476. Judgmental sampling based on the organisation's market position and plant production capacity (i.e. one lakh litre per day) has been set as the benchmark for selecting the dairy processing units. The executives are selected as respondents as they are well-versed in the phenomenon of supply chain management practices, blockchain technology and supply chain performance compared to other staff working in the dairy industry. The data was collected from December 2021 to March 2022 through judgmental sampling. The target sample size was 476, but only 286 questionnaires were received in a completed state and were further used for analysis.

Manufacturing practices, information sharing, distribution management, inventory management and blockchain technology have a significant and positive impact on supply chain performance in the Indian dairy industry. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that blockchain technology partially mediates the relationship between supply chain management practices and supply chain performance in the context of the Indian dairy industry.

This research is focused on the Indian dairy industry operating in only two states, namely New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. More research is needed to determine whether SCM practices and the prospects for blockchain technology among channel members are universally applicable to merchants in non-dairy products. Similar investigations should be carried out on dairy industry operating in various formats and in numerous geographic locations. Further, case studies can be conducted by future researchers to learn how supply chain management methods are deployed, what precisely these practices entail and what costs and time demands are required by these practices in context of small independent retailers across different germane expanse.

While the available literature on the research area is spread out, the influence of blockchain technology in the Indian dairy industry has not yet been sufficiently analysed. Therefore, the research article focused on exploring underlying dimensions of the constructs of supply chain management practices, blockchain technology adoption and supply chain performance in the context of the Indian dairy industry.

The earliest known instance of scholarly writing on logistics (in 1901) is actually located in agribusiness. While case illustrations of productivity improvements in logistics in agribusiness have routinely featured in the academic literature since then, such efficiency gains are rarely cast in a broader, strategic perspective – a somewhat surprising omission. Consequently, this study seeks to clarify the relationship between logistics and generic business strategy in dairy organisations/industries by using the New Zealand dairy industry as a case in point. (The focus is more on operations than on distribution and service). We first clarify that the New Zealand dairy co‐operatives and the (export‐oriented) New Zealand dairy industry as a whole, have generally followed a strategy of cost leadership. We then review the various ways in which efficiency has been realised in logistics in the industry, and especially dwell on how the structure (e.g. co‐operative ownership, vertical integration) of the dairy industry has supported and/or hindered the focus on cost leadership. We also examine the extent to which our analysis of supply‐chain efficiency extends to other dairy organisations/industries.

The purpose of this research is to understand how accounting information mobilises stakeholder salience at an industry level.

A case study method using an explanation building approach was applied to gather information surrounding dairy industry stakeholder uses of accounting information to communicate their salience, in the historical context, leading to, and the events surrounding the milk price “war” in Australia. The Mitchell et al. (1997) stakeholder salience framework was used to advance our understanding of the different ways accounting can be mobilized by stakeholders with different types of salience attributes, at an industry level.

This empirical analysis produces two insights into the relation between accounting and stakeholder salience. First, there is evidence as to how accounting information impacted on stakeholder salience at an industry level by demonstrating how accounting information (in)directly communicated and justified the increase of a stakeholder’s level of salience. Second, the Mitchell et al. (1997) model is extended by attributing levels of importance to each stakeholder attribute. It was found that, in this setting, power was the most salient attribute of the three, usurping legitimacy and urgency, leading to the outcomes observed.

This paper acknowledged the usual method limitations related to this style of qualitative research, including investigator bias and lack of statistical generalization. In addition, a second set of limitations critiques the paper’s operating framework. While the Mitchell et al. (1997) stakeholder salience model proved to be a suitable choice for this research, it is limited in the way in which stakeholder attributes are presented and used to identify stakeholders. In addition, further light may be provided on the distinctions between the different magnitudes of power, legitimacy and urgency between stakeholders after suggesting that they are not equally weighted.

The milk price “war” remains a high-profile discussion amongst the general public. This research contributes to a better understanding of how different players (stakeholders) have their salience claims mobilized through accounting information. Practitioners in the dairy industry might reflect on the findings to enhance their legitimacy pursuits in future negotiations with their counter-parties, and better deploy accounting to achieve the same.

The findings speak more broadly to notions of social equity in stakeholder relations, for the production and distribution of a product that is ubiquitously used in society (dairy – milk). The findings from this study therefore have potential to assist policymakers better understand the strategies adopted by stakeholders to impose their influence and defend their claims in a public forum, using accounting information.

The authors contend that the article provides evidence at an industry level, that is lacking in extant management accounting research (Collier, 2000). To this extent, an original contribution is claimed. The paper is also valuable to management accounting and management researchers studying stakeholder salience, and is one of the first to investigate this issue at an industry level, as well as express how accounting mobilises this salience.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the key performance indicators (PIs) that serve as a decision support tool in case of dairy supply chain practices and to analyze their interactions in the context of Indian dairy industry sector. A total of 11 PIs have been identified through the literature review and the opinions of an expert team consisting of managerial and technical experts from dairy industry and academics.

A solution methodology based on the interpretive structure modeling (ISM) technique is used to analyze the interactions among PIs and to propose a structural model. The developed model not only helps in understanding the contextual relationship among the PIs, but also in determining their interdependence to assess the supply chain performance in dairy industry. Further, the importance of PIs has been determined based on their driving and dependence power by using MICMAC analysis.

The ISM-based model suggests four PIs at first level, three PIs at second level, one PI at third level as well as one PI at fourth level and two PIs at fifth level. Model allocates to the effective information technology, brand management, responsiveness in shipment and accuracy and a control over wastages as the key PIs in the dairy industry sector. The effective traceability systems, cold chain infrastructure, quality management and the support for technological innovations are the next major PIs. There exists no autonomous PI in MICMAC analysis which proves the importance of identified PIs in the case study.

The proposed model is an attempt to capture the dynamics of milk processing sector and to incorporate all relevant constraints related to internal and external environments that would significantly improve the supply chain performance in the dairy industry.

The model developed in this study has been tested in the cooperative milk processing units based in India and also discussed with the experts from academics. This work may help practitioners, regulators and dairy industry professionals to focus their efforts toward achieving high performance by the effective implementation of the identified PIs.

In this study, 11 PIs are considered. Interactions among PIs are evaluated with the help of the ISM matrix. Out of the 11 PIs, six demonstrate both strong driving and dependence power as explained in the MICMAC analysis.

This study aims to research examples of mergers and acquisitions of European and Latvian dairy firms, the motivation for these transactions and their results, and to show that mergers and acquisitions had a positive impact on the development of the dairy industry overall and on specific firms by increasing their competitiveness.

The authors analyze the reasons for, as well as the meaning and impact of, mergers and acquisitions on firm development, focusing on the example of dairy companies in Europe, and subsequently on these processes in Latvian dairy industry.

The study is based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of firm financial reports as well as reports of the International Dairy Federation, publications of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, annual reports of the International Farm Comparison Network, reports on the dairy industry in the European Union, Latvian Central Union of Dairy Producers, Lursoft firm registry data, as well as reports of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Latvian Farm Consultation and Education center.

The study relies on statistical comparisons of firm operations before mergers or acquisitions as well as during the process and afterwards. This allows identifying the impact of mergers itself on particular firms or the industry, while abstracting from exogenous factors. Mergers and acquisitions in Latvian dairy industry had begun in 2011 and continued until 2013. However, the geopolitical situation in Europe in 2015 had fully offset the positive impact of this process. The deterioration in the geopolitical climate due to developments in Russian–Ukrainian relations has had a big impact on the economic processes affecting the development strategy of dairy firms.

This study finds that often the problems of firm development are related to the lack of financial management especially deficiencies in decision making about firm mergers and acquisitions.

Historical and statistical analysis as well as comparisons of successful experiences in Europe and Latvia allows the authors to conclude that in evaluating decisions on the possibilities for mergers and acquisitions Latvian firms have to be guided by the most important results of this process: possible increases in foreign direct investment and the growth in market share. This will, in turn, give the firms an opportunity to acquire new technologies, reorganize manufacturing processes, and start producing goods with larger value added. Ultimately, this will allow increasing firm values.

This case describes the challenges faced by Amul in organising dairy farmers into a co-operative and creating continuous opportunities for value addition. Participants in the case discussion are required to review the developments in the organisation and recommend a strategy for the future.

The UK milk industry has been in a state of rapid evolution following the dissolution in 1994 of the milk marketing boards. The paper examines dairy processing companies, milk collection co‐operatives and milk groups in the south west of England to assemble reasons for success and failures and compare them with north west France, with similar traditional dairying. The findings suggest the following opportunities as the best development potential for the dairy industry in south west England: mature cheddar, speciality cheeses, suitable territorial cheese varieties and other fresh cheeses; dairy desserts; and yoghurts, fromage frais and crème fraiche. A second tier of opportunities could take place through new on‐farm processing; expansion of the product range of existing companies; expansion of the Davidstow Creamery as a producer of mature cheddar; and new “green field” site developments by new entrants.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact on household and farming systems of government efforts to modernise production, build scale and develop specialisation in the Tibet dairy industry.

An overview of policy strategies and industry developments is used to frame detailed micro-level analysis of household and farming systems where impacts on households are explored from both a comparative static and dynamic perspective.

Specialisation and intensification improve household returns but elicit major changes in the farming and household systems and engagement with external markets. For instance, scaling up from three to ten improved cows increases returns from farm activities by one-half but shifts households from a state of food self-sufficiency to one where they need to sell two-thirds of their dairy products and buy three-fifths of their livestock feed.

The diversity among Tibetan farm households and the dynamic changes occurring in farm productivity, product markets and agrarian systems means that the empirical results are used as illustrative rather than definitive.

Relative to the large attention on the Chinese dairy industry with regard to food safety and industry development, the impacts of dairy specialisation on smallholders especially in western China have been overlooked. The case highlights several issues relevant to agrarian transition and development including changing labour use, risk exposure and engagement with external markets.

Purpose – This study compares the arrival of large-scale dairy farming in two New Zealand regions since 1984 with a particular focus on the competition between sheep farming and dairy farming.

Design/methodology/approach – The case study draws on qualitative interviews with 58 farmers in two regions.

Findings – We identify and compare the changing economic, social and cultural hierarchies in and between the two regions.

Originality/value – This study extends a typical political economic comparison by emphasising the changes in social and cultural capital as a result of the changing economic conditions in the country and the regions.

Sustainability in food sector is the need of the hour. It has been revealed that Green supply chain management (GSCM) is an emerging new and effective approach to improve the productivity, efficiency of any enterprises and to achieve sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to rank the key performance indicators which are responsible for implementation of GSCM in Indian dairy sector. Ranking is done by giving weightage to them based on survey reports. The study includes literature review, personal interviews and surveys using the detailed questionnaire. Since food processing industry, e.g. dairy industry is the major energy user and directly affecting the health of public is being chosen for implementing GSCM practices. The approach is to form an effective framework for successful implementation of GSCM in dairy sector. Grouping of key performance indicators has been done using factor analysis and thereafter Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method has been applied to determine the suitable framework based on relative importance of critical factors.

The first step was to identify critical factors through extensive literature review, personal interviews, etc. The personal interviews has been carried out by contacting executives, managers, professionals of various dairy industries. Data has also been collected by interviewing auditors of ISO 14001 which was responsible for implementation of Environmental management system. Questionnaire used for collecting data has been formulated based on critical factors. It is also used to study minute details of the process being used in dairy industry. After collection of sufficient data SPSS is used for grouping of data through factor analysis. Thereafter AHP method has been used to identify the relative importance of these factors by ranking it which can be used by the managers in developing model/framework for implementing GSCM.

The work aims to examine the critical factors of GSCM and its ranking so as to implement GSCM practices in dairy industry in Indian context. Detailed questionnaire based on 79 parameters has been used for survey in dairy industry in northern India. Grouping of these parameters has been done using factor analysis. The ranking of these identified critical factors has been used by using AHP which is used to see the relative importance of these eight factors. These ranked factors would be used by the managers of the dairy industry to implement GSCM. The work is limited to Indian dairy industry but it can be extended to other industry also after identification of critical factors.

It is certified that this research work is original and has never been submitted or published in any journal.