Traceability in food supply chain:: Towards the synchronised supply chain

Today, food products are distributed all over the world. This has led to advantages in terms of availability but disadvantages in terms of more complex food supply chains. Global food competition is intense and therefore actors have started to adapt their mindsets toward a more holistic view and a supply chain perspective. In addition, food scares during recent years have turned focus towards food safety and traceability in a “farm-to-fork” perspective. The aim of this study is to explore and elaborate on challenges raised by supply chain traceability and on how traceability in food supply chains can add value to the actors. The theoretical findings are combined with empirical input from a case study within a food supply chain. To achieve a value-added approach to traceability this study shows the need to go beyond regulatory demands. The literature study indicates and the case study confirms that gaining supply chain traceability raises challenges for supply chain actors. The study also shows that supply chain traceability can be value-adding for supply chain actors. The added values gained through supply chain traceability can enable synchronisation of the supply chain.