Enhancing business competitiveness of medium-sized food produce retailers through supply chain management

Background: Adoption of supply chain management (SCM) initiatives by businesses has resulted in businesses to follow a customer-centric approach in their operation. SCM initiatives nowadays play a critical role in the success and business competitiveness of organisations in ensuring that the customer requirements are satisfied. The purpose of this study was to explore whether business competitiveness of medium-sized food product retailers in Mahikeng is enhanced through SCM in South Africa. There was no empirical evidence of SCM practices found relating to SCM of medium-sized food product retailers in Mahikeng. Research objectives: This study explored whether SCM and supply chain collaboration enhance business competitiveness of medium-sized food product retailers in Mahikeng town, South Africa. Research methodology: A qualitative research method, descriptive design, non-probability sampling strategy were followed to conduct the study. The notes and recorded interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed following thematic data analysis to get to the results. Results: The study showed that SCM enhances the business competitiveness of medium-sized food product retailers in South Africa. The results revealed that the competitiveness of the retailers is enhanced through good and improved supplier/ customer relationships by sustained continuous flow of goods and services. Conclusion: This study implicated that competitive advantage and resource-based view theories can be used to explore business competitiveness in South Africa. Implications of the findings indicated that owner/managers will understand the benefits of adopting initiatives of SCM.