Issue 4

In previous issues of VIEW we have reflected on how the steady downward trend in the real price of agricultural raw materials, seen for much of the last 25 years, has now been reversed and how in future the assurance of plentiful supplies has been replaced with greater uncertainty. This has resulted in supply chain risk simultaneously both increasing and shifting upstream closer to the interface between farmers and first-hand food processors.

The results of the survey of readers that we ran in our last issue of VIEW revealed a burning question: what should farming and food companies do about this - particularly with regard to their supply chain relationships?  Consequently this issue of VIEW focuses on how relationships between farming and food businesses will need to evolve in response to these changes. It is clear that there will be no single solution; individual supply chains must consider a multitude of factors before deciding what's best for them. By writing about these issues we hope to conitnue to challenge and stimulate your thinking in the context of your own supply chain relationships.

VIEW, Issue 4, August 2009
Our view - Tipping Point (pdf document)
We discuss how supply chain relationships between farming and food businesses are evolving and present a model that helps you to evaluate whether your current supply chain strategy is the right one.

EFFP's Retail Food Price Forecast and commentary (pdf document)

Grow your business with McDonald's  - an interview with Steve Easterbrook, CEO of McDonald's UK (pdf document)
McDonald's localised supply chain strategy means that they source 60% of all ingredients from British and Irish farmers. Steve explains how a growing and successful McDonald's business is also a growth opportunity for their suppliers.

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