Title: Lean and circular economy relevance in post-harvest loss prevention: Nigerian retailers' perceptions

Authors: Adeyinka Peter Ajayi

Addresses: Department of Transport Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Redeemer's University, PMB 230, EDE, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper examined the extent to which application of lean management helped in the prevention of post-harvest loss (PHL) among grocery retailers. It also filled the gap on how socioeconomic situations (SES) of retailers in vegetable supply chain (VSC) influenced the adoption of circular economy (CE) as an inimitable tool against PHL. A survey of 337 retailers was undertaken in Akinyele grocery market Ibadan, the result showed that retailers believed the adoption of the LM principle statistically predicted the reduction in the volume of PHL of studied vegetables. Similarly, SES variables of gender and literacy significantly predicted the adoption of principles of CE in the management of PHL based on retailers' perceptions. Findings suggest that forging of inter-organisational relationship is critical for successful performance of lean in VSC; likewise, knowledge management (KM) tool of literacy is an important consideration in adopting a novel strategy to guide against PHL among members of VSC.

Keywords: vegetable supply chain; VSC; post harvest loss; PHL; lean management; LM; circular economy; CE; grocery retailers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISM.2023.127652

International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, 2023 Vol.16 No.1, pp.82 - 105

Received: 09 Nov 2021
Accepted: 19 Jun 2022
Published online: 13 Dec 2022 *