Organic and local food plays an important role in the discussion of sustainable public procurement for school catering services. The present study investigates the value chain supplying school catering with organic produce, using the organic vegetable industry in the Berlin-Brandenburg region in Germany as an example. The qualitative case study employs a structuration theory approach to explore value chain actors’ perspectives and their practices. Data is collected by conducting 14 in-depth interviews with actors on different supply chain levels (farming, wholesale, and catering) and analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis. The results suggest that, while organic food is generally important in school catering in Berlin, locally produced organic vegetables play only a minor role. A constraining factor is the lack of incentives for the use of locally produced organic food in the procurement guidelines, combined with a very limited budget for sourcing. Also, there are no preprocessing facilities in the region, while work organization in school catering services depends heavily on preprocessed food. From a farmers’ perspective, focusing on process grade vegetables is rarely a common marketing strategy.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate food retailers food waste reduction practices in Germany. The focus is on selling and redistributing agricultural produce with visual impairments and other surplus food items. In addition, drivers and barriers regarding the implementation of both waste reduction practices are explored.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 12 in-depth interviews with managerial actors in the food retail sector and a food bank spokesperson were recorded, transcribed and analyzed through a qualitative content analysis.FindingsIn contrast to organic retailers, conventional retailers were reluctant to include agricultural produce with visual impairments in their product assortments, due to fears of negative consumer reactions. Another obstacle was EU marketing standards for specific produce. All retailers interviewed engaged in redistribution of surplus food. Logistics and the regulatory framework were the main barriers to food redistribution.Originality/valueThe present study adds to the existing body of literature on food waste reduction practices as it explores selling produce with visual impairments and elaborates on the legal background of food redistribution in German retail. The results are the foundation for providing recommendations to policy makers and charitable food organizations.

Purpose Hail risk management is essential for successful farm management in German fruit production, particularly because hail events and associated losses have increased in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a detailed risk analysis comparing different strategies to manage hail risk, taking into account farmers’ risk aversion and farm-specific conditions. Design/methodology/approach Within an expected utility framework, two different strategies for managing hail risk are compared: one belonging to the group of financial instruments (hail insurance) and the other to the group of technical instruments (anti-hail net). A unique data set comprising a ten-year time series of orchard-specific hail damage and hail insurance data is used. Findings For orchards with low local hail risk and low yield potential, not using hail risk mitigation is most efficient. For orchards with high local hail risk and high yield potential, anti-hail nets provide the highest certainty equivalents. For orchards with high local risk, but low yield potential, hail insurance is most efficient. For orchards, with low local risk, but high yield potential, the certainty equivalents are higher for anti-hail net, when the farmer is risk neutral or slightly risk-averse. With increasing risk aversion, hail insurance is most efficient, which can be explained by the greater degree of the instrument’s flexibility. Originality/value The novelty of the study lies in the direct comparison of the risk effects of anti-hail nets and hail insurance in fruit production.

Human resource management in agriculture and associated risks are under-researched topics. To identify the sources of human resource management risks confronting dairy farms, gain insights into how dairy farmers perceive the impacts of these risks, and identify control strategies, four focus group discussions were held with dairy farm managers. Managers' perceptions served to develop a framework for the analysis of human resource management risks in agriculture and derive recommendations for reducing these risks. Results of this study have been used to tailor educational programs for farmers and suggest strategies for future research.

Job satisfaction is likely the most studied work-related attitude and is assumed to influence a variety of behaviors. This study analyzes the job satisfaction of agricultural employees using Herzberg's theory, which is broadly employed in management. Fourteen horticultural businesses participated in case studies of labor-management practices. Fifteen nonsupervisory employee interviews were analyzed regarding job satisfaction. Components of job satisfaction relevant to horticultural employees were family-business values, achievement, recognition, work itself, involvement, personal life, interpersonal relationships, job security, supervision, working conditions, organization, safety, compensation, and information. While support for Herzberg's theory is weak, it is useful for classifying employees' attitudes.

This study investigates forms of sector blending practiced by the Federal Association of German Food Banks and respective benefits and drawbacks emerging for the organization. The study builds on a prior sector blending categorization system. Twenty in-depth interviews with food bank members were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. In addition, webpage materials from German food retailers and press releases from the German Food Bank were analyzed. Imitation, interaction and industry creation were forms of sector blending found. The main drawback found was that the food bank fails to serve those outside the German social security system, such as the homeless. Benefits include a more professional image of the organization, and the enhancement of social capital. Overall, the additional generation of funds and resources were the most important aspects of sector blending efforts in the German food bank, as it helps food pantries adjust to an increasing number of people in need.

Purpose -While many studies in family business research focus on mono-causal impacts of succession, the purpose of this paper is to employ a systemic approach to analyze dynamic effects of intra-family succession on multiple business areas in family-run companies. Design/methodology/approach -A system analysis using a participatory approach was conducted for a reference family-run company operating in the horticultural retail sector in Germany. The Vester Sensitivity Model, supplemented with principles from system thinking was used to identify key variables related to intra-family succession. Findings -Expert input and analysis of variable co-occurrence revealed key variables associated with succession such as "strategic planning," "productivity" and "financial flexibility." Dynamic interactions among various business areas were identified by simulating interventions in succession trajectories. In particular, key variables such as "conflicts between family and work" and "organizational climate" turned out to be highly sensitive to changes during a succession process. Practical implications -The concept and design of this system analysis tool will allow practitioners such as company managers and business consultants to better understand complex interrelations within companies and provide additional guidance with regard to critical events like business transfer. Originality/value -The present study uses system thinking to analyze succession and its dynamic and time-lagged impacts on affected business areas in family-run companies for the first time. Repeated application of the systemic approach presented here to real-world business cases will gradually improve the tool and the quality of information it provides.

Initiatives of the European Union in the context of food waste running governmental and nonprofit campaigns strive to reach waste reduction goals. The study investigated entrepreneurial business models in the arena of food waste in Germany with a multiple case study research approach. Business entrepreneurs seek to reduce waste through its monetarization. After the initial identification of close to all current entrepreneurial businesses, ten entrepreneurs in retail, processing, and food service were interviewed to determine barriers and challenges to the models’ success and analyze their motivation to start these businesses. The most important barriers constituted logistical problems regarding supply as well as marketing; and the need for close collaboration with suppliers constituted another important challenge. Their motivations combine sustainability-oriented goals with a profit goal. To scale up, an increase in collaboration and data exchange is needed across the supply chain.