Abstract
Local food producers need to integrate within networks of suppliers, distributor, customers and communityrepresentatives in order to increase their competitiveness. The main objective of this study was to evaluate theperformance of an integrated food distribution network (IFDN) in Sweden. Location and route analyses wereconducted using data of 11 producers, 149 customers and one distribution centre (DC). Geographic InformationSystem (GIS) tools and location analysis techniques were utilized. Route analyses were done considering onenon-integrated distribution system (scenario1) and three different integrated distributions systems (scenarios 2, 3and 4). The results of location analysis indicated that the existing DC is located at best position. When comparedto Scenario1, best improvements were gained in scenario3 i.e. up to 64% in number of routes, 53% in number ofvisits, 74% in transport distance and 63% in transport time. As a consequence, the emissions emanated fromvehicles were reduced. The analyses gave insights into main implications of IFDN such as implication forlogistics efficiency; implication for food and service quality; and implication for environmental sustainability oflocal food supply chain.
Highlights
The efficiency of logistics greatly affects the sustainability of success in business activities (Brimer, 1995; Tarantilis, Diakoulaki, & Kiranoudis, 2004)
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an integrated food distribution network in local food supply chain
About 61% of the products were distributed in Borlänge community while Säter and Smedjebacken communities received about 14% each and Gagnef received about 11% of total quantity distributed via distribution centre (DC)
Summary
The efficiency of logistics greatly affects the sustainability of success in business activities (Brimer, 1995; Tarantilis, Diakoulaki, & Kiranoudis, 2004). As networks and other organised ways of collaboration are means to increase the competitiveness of a region and a country (Beckeman & Skjöldebrand, 2007), in the food supply chains such networks at the community level contribute to the regional development. Innovation in the local food supply chains (LFSC) can be manifested mainly in process changes, new approaches to marketing, new forms of distribution and new conceptions of scope (Beckeman & Skjöldebrand, 2007). The transport in the agricultural sector is one of the areas where such reduction of emissions is expected as a contribution to the efforts to mitigate the risk of climate change (Jaradat, 2010). Within the agricultural sector, detailed investigations of logistics related activities are rare at the LFSC level
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