Supply chain resilience in city-region food systems: The case of Paris-Rungis market during the pandemic

Abstract

Over the half of the world’s population live in cities and rapid urbanization expected to continue in the future. city region food systems connect supply chain stakeholders from rural and urban areas. However, city region food systems are far from being sustainable and resilient as was evident during the shortages of the current pandemic outbreak.This study examines the case of Paris-Rungis market in France during the pandemic outbreak and investigates how the wholesale market acted as an integrator in this city region food systems during the crisis..It reports how the collaborative actions created supply chain resilience, specifically integrative partnerships, joint digitisation, cooperative reverse logistics, multi-stakeholder control, and collective learning. Collaborative supply chain resilience creates three (Triple A) capabilities: Anticipation, Adaptability, and Agility. Findings of this study have important managerial implications for the city region food systems, especially with the need to reconnect with the countryside, create collaborative transparency mutual aid, and create collaborative than cooperative supply chain structures.