The impact of COVID-19 on perishable export supply chains in New Zealand: strategies and adaptations : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Commerce and Management at Lincoln University

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a unique and challenging disruption globally, with many supply chains facing ongoing disruptions as a result. As such, 94% of the Fortune 1,000 companies have reported disruptions within their supply chains as a result of the pandemic (Ivanov, 2020). For perishable export supply chains in New Zealand, this is no different, with many impacts resulting from the pandemic, thus testing the resilience of these specific supply chains. These impacts include capacity, labour and equipment shortages, but also severe port congestion globally. New Zealand is highly dependent on its perishable exports that have grown in quantity and value exponentially in the last two decades, both via sea and air freight. Global Logistics Businesses (GLBs) act as the critical link between the point of production and consumption within many perishable export supply chains. Thus, a key research question is to determine the resilience of GLBs and how they have managed to mitigate and reduce the impacts of a large scale disruption such as COVID-19. To investigate this question, multiple case studies were conducted on both GLBs and Carriers in New Zealand to identify the resilience plans and adaptations used during the preparation, response and recovery phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. A useful conceptual framework to help frame disruptions and plan for future events is the Haddon Matrix. This matrix acts as the primary interpretative framework to categorise distinct factors and strategies used within each phase of the disruption. The result of this research is a revised Haddon Matrix offered as a planning tool for managers and researchers that can be utilised when facing further waves of COVID-19, or new pandemics in the future. The findings of this research suggest that the majority of GLBs and Carriers coped well despite the lack of specific pandemic planning. It found that flexibility and communication were key to resilience, as well as favourable exogenous factors such as the New Zealand Government’s influence and fiscal support during the pandemic. Together with the unique experiences that each GLB and carrier has faced during the COVID-19 disruption, it is hoped that the revised Haddon Matrix will provide a roadmap to aid and improve resilience during each phase within the disaster management cycle, including the preparation, response and recovery phases.