Supply Chain Strategies in the Food Industry: Insights from Real-World Case Studies

Supply chain management (SCM) constitutes a fundamental pillar of the food industry, where efficiency, safety, quality, and responsiveness are decisive factors influencing competitiveness and consumer confidence. In Thailand, a leading food producer and exporter, the formulation and implementation of supply chain strategies have become increasingly vital to meeting the complex requirements of both domestic and international markets. Nevertheless, food supply chains are confronted with persistent challenges, including uncertainty in the quality and quantity of raw materials, labor-intensive operations, fragmented supply chain, limited process visibility, risks to product quality and safety, and elevated logistics costs. These issues are often rooted in low productivity, insufficient knowledge, inadequate integration of information systems, and continued reliance on traditional practices. This study examines supply chain strategies within the Thai food industry through real-world case analyses framed by the SCOR model: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, and Return. Illustrative cases include demand planning and mitigation of the bullwhip effect in the instant noodle industry, sourcing constraints in coconut and durian supply chains, line balancing in frozen chicken and beef processing, cold-chain logistics for fresh produce and food service distribution, and reverse flows of raw materials in pet food manufacturing. The findings underscore the critical role of supply chain management expertise, digital technologies, stakeholder collaboration, risk management, and sustainable practices in fostering resilient and competitive food supply chains. These insights provide valuable implications for managers and policymakers striving to enhance Thailand’s global competitiveness in the food sector while advancing long-term sustainability and value creation.