Sustainable Purchasing Practices: A Study of Fresh Food SMEs in Yorkshire

Abstract

This paper studies the sustainable purchasing practices of SMEs in the fresh food sector. Semi-structured interviews with farmers, retailers and wholesalers in five fresh food SMEs were supplemented by a survey questionnaire. Interview transcripts were analysed and interpreted using qualitative methods and the survey questionnaire responses were analysed using quantitative methods supported by MS Excel. The results are four-fold. First, owners’ personal commitment on sustainability provides incentives for SMEs to implement sustainable purchasing practices. Second, brand reputation, pressures from consumers and government policies are important drivers underpinning the implementation of sustainable purchasing practices. Third, although most fresh food SMEs consider environmental and social factors to a good extent in their purchasing decisions, the lack of financial and human resources are the main barriers that affect their sustainable purchasing decisions. Fourth, most SMEs do not require certification from their suppliers, but they have strong relationships with small and independent suppliers and often monitor them regarding environmental and social issues. Some new insights on the frameworks typically used in sustainable purchasing practices are provided, e.g. the additional focus on fresh food SMEs, considering both drivers and barriers for the effective implementation of sustainable purchasing. Recommendations are provided, such as: purchasing managers should work more closely with their suppliers and local community on implementation of sustainable purchasing practices, and that fresh food SMEs require more financial and human resources in order to achieve effective sustainable purchasing practices.