Building effective alliances in the meat supply chain: lessons from the UK Available to Purchase

Focuses on the meat and livestock sector and initiatives aimed at encouraging farmers to develop links with other marketing sectors so that they are able to assess and supply the right product, of consistent quality. Believes that farmers should form group structures and then integrate with abattoirs and retailers in order to develop a managed supply chain, citing commitment, communication and continuity as key factors for developing effective business links. Notes the reluctance, in this particular industry, to move from working with an “open‐adversarial” market into a collaborative scheme, and suggests that the inclusion of a value‐based marketing/processing element may assist in achieving a true partnership between farmers and processors.