Configuring next generation food supply chains: a risk perspective

An often overlooked aspect of today’s business environment in general and supply chains in particular is uncertainty. The scenarios of loss of supplier, transport strikes, IT services failing, stock outs etc are becoming all too common. Looking at the future of supply
chains, uncertainty and risk appear to be increasing and will play a crucial part in the configuration of next generation supply chain. This paper presents an alternative approach to supply chain configuration using supply chain risk as the minimising variable. Perishable nature of the product and high risk impact in the Food supply chain offers perfect conditions to situate the study. Also, current trends in food supply chains namely globalisation, consolidation and commoditization indicate gr eater need for inherent risk minimisation while configuring future supply chains (Roth.A.V 2008). Using data from secondary sources and semi-structured interviews with respondents in a food supply chain, this exploratory study identifies the factors which need to be considered while configuring such a supply chain. The relationship between these factors is developed into a research framework.