International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Movarrei, Reza; Rezaee Vessal, Sara; Rezaee Vessal, Saeedeh; Aspara, Jaakko

2022 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-08-2020-0272

In the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers increasingly opt for, or are forced to, use home delivery services. The authors study retailers' decisions regarding “delivery mode”, which is about outsourcing (vs. insourcing) the delivery service to a traditional delivery company or an unbranded carrier and its effects on consumers' perceived overall quality, perceived hygienic quality, and subsequently, willingness to stay with the firm beyond the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA pre-test, an experiment and a post-test were conducted with participants from the UK (Total N = 380).FindingsThe results of this study show that (1) in a pandemic, perceived hygienic quality overshadows perceived service quality as a key determinant of consumers' choices, and (2) while consumers have a relatively negative view of the hygienic level of unbranded carriers, they do not differentiate between traditional delivery carriers and retailer-branded carriers. Thus, they are equally interested in using the services of the latter ones.Originality/valueThis study shows that during a health crisis, consumers change their hierarchy of motivations to reflect the new protection motivations. The authors usher perceived hygienic quality as a variable that should be seriously considered as both a tactical and a strategic variable affecting the attractiveness of alternative home delivery methods and consumers' intentions to continue using them after the pandemic.

Pålsson, Henrik; Sandberg, Erik

2022 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2019-0270

The purpose of this paper is to explore different types of packaging paradoxes and the reasons for their existence in food supply chains.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses a multiple case study approach with rich empirical data from seven leading companies in Swedish food supply chains. The research uses coding and a paradox theory lens to analyse packaging paradoxes, both within and between companies in a supply chain.FindingsThe paper provides a novel theoretical lens which uses comprehensive empirical data to identify and categorise four types of packaging paradoxes on two system levels in food supply chains. It presents detailed descriptions of, and underlying reasons for, the paradoxes. It also discusses strategies required to manage packaging paradoxes.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should confirm and extend the findings in this study by incorporating data from companies in other countries. It should cover the importance of paradoxes, their impact on company performance and innovation, and how different paradoxes are related to each other. It should also investigate strategies to manage paradoxes further.Practical implicationsThe findings should help companies acknowledge and identify management principles for packaging paradoxes in food supply chains.Originality/valueIt is the first study which systematically explores packaging paradoxes in food supply chains. The study offers a new approach to understand the complexity of packaging decisions in food supply chains. It contributes to the packaging logistics literature by extending theoretical knowledge about conflicts of interest related to packaging. The management discussion offers initial insights into management of packaging paradoxes and directions for future research.