Management practices by South African wholesalers : a purchasing and supply management perspective : research article

The aim of the article is to report on an empirical research study that was undertaken to determine the extent to which wholesalers in South Africa have adapted to new demands and developments in the management of their purchasing and supply function. The article also provides a synopsis of the literature study that was initiated to investigate the evolution of purchasing to strategic sourcing as part of the broader supply chain management approach, as well as wholesaling operations and their role in supply chains. The results of the study showed that most of the respondents regard the buying and selling of goods as their most important activity, and that there is evidence that they apply both tactical purchasing and strategic supply management practices. However, there is overwhelming evidence that South African wholesalers tend to keep to traditional practices regarding the management of their purchasing and supply activities.