Supply Chain Design and Control Principles in Local Food Production: A Norwegian Case Study

Abstract

Based on an analysis of four local food producers this paper explores the relation between the supply chain design and control principles, and the strategic fit. Local food has arisen as a popular supplement to the traditional supermarket product range offered by retailers and restaurants. However it has been shown that local food struggles with the market access, and that the supply chain is one of the obstacles preventing local food producers to gain a solid market position. We analyse how the supply chain of food specialties could be designed and controlled in order to fit with the competitive features of local food producers. It identifies a number of features of the local food chain, analyzes the obstacles and discusses how the characteristics could be dealt with by adjusting design and control principles. It develops generic designs and control principles for local food producers.