Sustaining supply chain relationships for co-operative success: the case of South Devon Organic Producers Co-operative (UK)

Abstract

Co-operatives play a vital role in supplying various goods and services in the UK, as well as in other parts of the world. In the past twenty years co-operatives have become important players in modern organic food supply chains, providing small-scale farmers with access to knowledge and markets, alongside opportunities to scale up their production. This teaching case is developed from qualitative interviews with current and former members and employees from the South Devon Organic Producers (SDOP) Co-operative, an award-winning organic vegetable grower co-operative based in South Devon (UK). The case is supplemented with interviews with key managerial personnel at the SDOP’s main stakeholder Riverford Organic Farms Limited. The case explores how the relationship between SDOP and Riverford is the key to understanding SDOP’s participation in the organic food chain.