TY - JOUR

T1 - Happy Growers! Relationship Quality in the German Organic Apple Chain

AU - Zander, Katrin

AU - Beske, Philip

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Relational factors between supply chain actors have been acknowledged to contribute significantly to competitiveness. With the example of the German market for organic apples the suitability of the concept of the Relational View for explaining competitiveness was investigated. Structured interviews were conducted with selected actors of the supply chain. Actors at all levels of the supply chain proved to be highly committed and described their business relations as satisfying and trustful. Strong vertical and horizontal collaboration was found. Thus, the Relational View proved to be highly suitable to explain competitiveness in the market for organic apples.

AB - Relational factors between supply chain actors have been acknowledged to contribute significantly to competitiveness. With the example of the German market for organic apples the suitability of the concept of the Relational View for explaining competitiveness was investigated. Structured interviews were conducted with selected actors of the supply chain. Actors at all levels of the supply chain proved to be highly committed and described their business relations as satisfying and trustful. Strong vertical and horizontal collaboration was found. Thus, the Relational View proved to be highly suitable to explain competitiveness in the market for organic apples.

KW - Sustainability sciences, Management & Economics

KW - Supply Chain Management

KW - organic food and farming

KW - competitive advantage

KW - relational view

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 17

SP - 205

EP - 223

JO - IFAMR - International Food and Agribusiness Management Review

JF - IFAMR - International Food and Agribusiness Management Review

SN - 1559-2448

IS - 3

ER -