Capturing food logistics: a literature review and research agenda

Abstract

How to feed the world is a vital question and likewise the importance of food logistics. This paper presents a literature review of the food aspects in logistics research. A total of 159 published papers were identified from 9 logistics and supply chain management journals, whereof 104 focused on food logistics. The papers were categorised into the type of logistics activities studied from the perspective of different food supply chain actors and actor constellations. The papers were also grouped according to which food product characteristics they had highlighted as impacting logistics activities. It was noticed that food products have unique characteristics and that food supply chain actors work in a specific context. Thus, this paper puts forward a comprehensive definition of food logistics: Food logistics analyses logistics activities within a food supply chain context by problematising food product characteristics and by examining the constellation of food supply chain actors.

Keywords:

• food
• logistics
• perishable
• literature review