Sustainability in the Coffee Supply Chain and Purchasing Policies: A Case Study Research

João F. Proença, Ana Cláudia Torres, Bernardo Marta, Débora Santos Silva, Grazielle Fuly and Helena Lopes Pinto
Additional contact information
João F. Proença: Advance/CSG, ISEG, University of Lisbon, 1200-109 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Torres: Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Bernardo Marta: Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Débora Santos Silva: Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Grazielle Fuly: Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Helena Lopes Pinto: Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: The literature shows that companies increasingly need to become more sustainable. To achieve sustainable development, supply chain management needs to be related to sustainable business practices, which include relevant values and sustainable purchasing policies. Focusing on these principles on the topic of coffee, this study shows the difficulties associated with this product. The study finds that coffee production is dependent on factors unrelated to management. This paper presents a case study of Delta Cafés owned by Grupo Nabeiro, a Portuguese company that shows relevant ways of achieving sustainable business methods to be incorporated in supply chain management. Our research shows a business based on sustainable, efficient handling of the food safety of its product and certification along the supply chain, as well as an adaptable purchasing policy. By reviewing the literature and information provided by the company, we confirm that the case study is a business leader in innovation, thought process, and action related to sustainability practices. Our research illustrates how business operations and culture can be explored to achieve sustainable buying processes and practices.

Keywords: sustainability; supply chain; purchasing policies; coffee business and production; Delta Cafés; Grupo Nabeiro; sustainable business; sustainable practices; food safety; buying process; agrifood products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/459/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/459/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:1:p:459-:d:716218

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().