The traditional food supply chain is arranged as a complex array of producers, handlers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. As the food supply chain grew in complexity over time, little emphasis was placed on preserving information regarding the origin of raw materials and...

The U.S. retail grocery industry shifted from an industry dominated by small grocers serving local markets to one characterized by large retailers present in international markets. Average retail grocery concentration as measured by CR4 increased from 19.9 in 1997 to 31.0 in 2002 (U.S....

This paper reports the results of a survey of cooperative managers regarding the use of communication technology including social media. The survey categorized 105 different cooperatives by current technology use and management practices. The survey found that Texas cooperative managers are...

The structure of industries changes in two major ways. Mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures are considered external factors. In addition, the firm rate of internal growth will influence market concentration. If the firm grows slower than the market, concentration will go down, etc. These two...

Supply-Chain Management (SCM) reduces time requirements and costs from supply chains to improve profitability and/or competitiveness. These savings are possible through conceptual advances and increasing use of powerful computer hardware and software. The SCM concept is defined, and some...

The "Ultramarket" is presented as the future step beyond the supermarket.