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“If only I Could Decide”: Opinions of Food Category Managers on in-Store Food Waste

Author

Listed:
  • Clara Cicatiello

    (Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Emanuele Blasi

    (Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Claudia Giordano

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Angelo Martella

    (Department of Economy, Engineering, Society and Business, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Silvio Franco

    (Department of Economy, Engineering, Society and Business, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Retail food waste represents a minor fraction of the total amount of food waste produced along the food supply chain (tenfold lower than the quantity of food disposed of by consumers at home). However, the role of retailers is crucial in shaping both the behavior of upstream food chain actors and the preferences of consumers. This paper studies the causes of food waste in retail stores and discusses potential mitigating actions based on the results of nine focus groups held in 2017 with 67 foods category managers. Participants used sticky notes to outline both the causes of in-store food waste and potential actions to address it. Sticky notes reporting 228 causes and 124 actions were collected during the study. Data were analyzed across thematic macro-categories and linked to the responsibility of supply chain actors, including managers at all store management levels. Results revealed that food category managers consider in-store operations (which include their actions and those of their subordinates) to be most responsible for retail food waste. However, when it comes to proposing actions against food waste, they believe that store managers are mainly responsible for the implementation of waste reduction actions. This study suggests that food category managers are key actors to involve in the fight against retail food waste. Greater effort should also be put towards informing and encouraging store managers to take action against food waste in supermarkets.

Suggested Citation

  • Clara Cicatiello & Emanuele Blasi & Claudia Giordano & Angelo Martella & Silvio Franco, 2020. "“If only I Could Decide”: Opinions of Food Category Managers on in-Store Food Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8592-:d:429655
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. C. William Young & Sally V. Russell & Cheryl A. Robinson & Phani Kumar Chintakayala, 2018. "Sustainable Retailing – Influencing Consumer Behaviour on Food Waste," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Silvio Franco & Clara Cicatiello, 2018. "Food waste due to over-nutrition in the Italians? dietary habits," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 159-180.
    3. Cicatiello, Clara & Franco, Silvio, 2020. "Disclosure and assessment of unrecorded food waste at retail stores," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    4. C. Rita Chen & Rachel J. C. Chen, 2018. "Using Two Government Food Waste Recognition Programs to Understand Current Reducing Food Loss and Waste Activities in the U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Cicatiello, Clara & Franco, Silvio & Pancino, Barbara & Blasi, Emanuele, 2016. "The value of food waste: An exploratory study on retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 96-104.
    6. Claudia Giordano & Fabrizio Alboni & Luca Falasconi, 2019. "Quantities, Determinants, and Awareness of Households’ Food Waste in Italy: A Comparison between Diary and Questionnaires Quantities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Izabela Karolina Horoś & Tonia Ruppenthal, 2021. "Avoidance of Food Waste from a Grocery Retail Store Owner’s Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Maren Reitemeier & Mohamed Aheeyar & Pay Drechsel, 2021. "Perceptions of Food Waste Reduction in Sri Lanka’s Commercial Capital, Colombo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Lena Riesenegger & Alexander Hübner, 2022. "Reducing Food Waste at Retail Stores—An Explorative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Lisa Mattsson & Helén Williams, 2022. "Avoidance of Supermarket Food Waste—Employees’ Perspective on Causes and Measures to Reduce Fruit and Vegetables Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.

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