The Influence of Reverse Logistics Strategies (RLS) on the Performance of Food and Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of Reverse Logistics Strategies (RLS) on the performance of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya, as part of a broader exploration of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) strategies. Using a descriptive cross-sectional research design, data were collected from a sample of 164 respondents across 138 firms, achieving a 90.9% response rate. Simple and multiple regression analyses, alongside Pearson’s product-moment and Spearman’s Rank Correlation, were employed to analyze the data via SPSS version 28. The findings indicate that RLS have a statistically significant negative impact on firm performance across multiple models, with coefficients ranging from -0.026 to -0.027 and p-values less than 0.000. This negative association persists despite a positive relationship being observed between RLS and original firm performance metrics prior to data transformation. These results suggest that while RLS may incur additional costs or operational challenges that negatively affect short-term performance metrics, they could contribute positively to long-term sustainability and efficiency. This study provides insights into the complex role of reverse logistics in the Kenyan manufacturing sector, offering implications for both managerial practices and policy development aimed at improving firm performance within a sustainable framework.