Well-being insights from the food insecurity supply chain: A paradox theory perspective on logistics service performance

Abstract

Food insecurity directly impacts individual well-being, and logistics is considered the backbone of serving food-insecure individuals. Food insecurity organizations (FIOs) such as national organizations, food banks, and food pantries offer transformative logistics services to address food insecurity. Previous research has begun to explore FIOs' logistics services and operations, but sparse research has examined how FIOs evaluate logistics service performance. Using logistics service quality as a foundation, our study explores the meaning of logistics service performance from the perspective of FIOs. Applying the hermeneutic method, we conducted interviews with 23 informants across 14 organizations to understand the meaning of logistics performance for FIOs. We leverage these interviews to offer a contextualized understanding of logistics service quality based on the four pillars of food insecurity and the shared meaning of logistics service performance within FIOs. By subjecting an important “traditional” performance metric to the consumer-centric realities of the food insecurity supply chain, we extend logistics theory by offering transformative logistics service outcomes based on well-being perspectives. We also offer timely guidance to help facilitate the vital work of FIOs.