Delivering high quality, safe and environmentally friendly food through long term agribusiness supply partnerships: Case study of Waitrose Supermarket's, Welsh and New Zealand seasonal agri-food supply chain

Abstract

The New Zealand economy is highly dependent on the production, processing, transportation and marketing of agricultural food and fibre products. New Zealand has a highly efficient pasture based production system however this has produced constraints in delivering high value differentiated products. The success of this requires meeting international consumers demands for a consistent supply of high quality, safe and environmentally friendly food and fibre at an attractive price. This requires long term collaborative supply chain partnerships. This research seeks to understand long term agri-food supply chain partnerships through studying the Waitrose supermarket chilled lamb supply chain. This case study shows that long term partnerships based on trust are able to deliver benefits to all supply chain participants as well as the final consumer. This partnership also provides benefits to wider stakeholders through improved environmental outcomes.