Position and Role of Social Supermarkets in Food Supply Chains

Abstract

Background: Social supermarkets were developed in Europe after the economic crisis 2008-2014. Their purpose is to decrease food waste that occurs in traditional food supply chains and to ensure access to food to socially endangered citizens. Objectives: This paper analyses the general perception of consumers regarding the mission and purpose of social supermarkets in four Central Eastern European (CEE) countries: Croatia, Poland, Lithuania, and Serbia. Methods/Approach: The paper brings the results of the survey research conducted in the observed CEE countries measuring attitudes towards the relevance and the role of social supermarkets. Results: There is a positive attitude regarding the existence of social supermarkets in all the analysed CEE countries. Less than 10% of respondents claim that there is no need for such organizations. In Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland examinees claim that reduction of food waste rather than reduction of poverty should be emphasized as a mission of social supermarkets. Conclusions: Social supermarkets require improvement of a legal framework, welfare system integration, and implementation of state monitoring. Moreover, larger involvement of religious communities, national and local governments, as supporting institutions is observed as a necessity in all the countries.

Research on food loss and waste in the Western Balkans: A systematic review

“…However, many authors refer to food security to justify reducing FLW in the Western Balkans. For instance, the purpose mission of social supermarkets, promoted in Europe during the 2008–2014 economic crisis, is to decrease FW to improve access to food by socially marginalized groups ( 17 ), thus combatting food poverty. Knežević et al ( 29 ) point out that various social initiatives, based on cross-sector cooperation in food distribution, try to simultaneously address the problems of food poverty and FW in Croatia and other countries in the EU.…”

“…Ilakovac et al ( 18 ) report that in Croatia the respondent age positively affected FW prevention, while the household income level and size (especially the number of children and teens under 18) had an adverse effect. Knežević et al ( 17 ) analyse the perception of consumers in Central Eastern Europe (viz. Croatia, Poland, Lithuania, and Serbia) toward social supermarkets and put that there is a positive attitude regarding the role of social supermarkets FW reduction.…”

Analisis Pengendalian Proses Supply Chain Management Produksi Tahu Nr Karawang

“…Suharto & Devie [11]. Hal ini memiliki peran penting dalam ekonomi kontemporer, terutama mempertimbangkan praktik Industri 4.0 [12], sustainability [13], [14], dan pembentukan dari green supply chain [15]. Di era perkembangan ekonomi menuntut persaingan bisnis untuk mendapatkan konsumen sebanyak-banyaknya terutama di bidang retail [16].…”

The future of charitable alternative food networks in the UK: an investigation into current challenges and opportunities for foodbanks and community markets

“…Despite this debate, there are similarities between food aid programmes and AFNs in terms of their shared goals of reducing food insecurity while ensuring environmental and localized socio-economic impacts using hybridized and conventional systems through advocacy of collective action at different levels (Goodman et al, 2012;Midgley, 2014;van der Horst et al, 2014;Cerrada-Serra et al, 2018;Michelini et al, 2018). Furthermore, the rise of alternative models to the foodbank model, such as community markets, to supplement traditional operations and provide sustainable solutions to food insecurity (Maric and Knezevic, 2014;Michelini et al, 2018;Knezevic and Skrobot, 2021), further highlights the association between food aid programmes and AFNs. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider food aid programmes, such as foodbanks and community markets, as types of AFNs and to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing food insecurity, as proposed in this study.…”