Supply chain integration and coordination in the agri-food sector

To improve supply chain performance, in terms of both quality and revenues, integration and coordination between chain actors are considered crucial. A high level of integration is generally claimed to be necessary for optimal performance. However, there are many different types of supply chains in many different contexts serving different types of markets, which may need different types of integration. Some chains, for example, serve homogeneous markets with commodity products produced in large numbers, while other, often smaller, chains serve niche markets with specialty products. In addition, organizations that are responsible for communicating quality to end consumers and maintaining quality levels in the chain are not always those at the end of the chain close to consumers, which may influence integration needs. This paper addresses integration and coordination in the supply chain based on case studies performed in Europe in the agri-food sector, more specifically the pork meat sector. In the paper integration differences will be identified.