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Blockchain for food and beverage supply: expired buzz word or accelerating trend?

Evangelia Thoukidides, Davide Calandra, Paolo Gay

British Food Journal

ISSN: 0007-070X

Article publication date: 17 January 2025

Issue publication date: 18 February 2025

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the barriers and motivators for adopting blockchain technology (BCT) in the food and beverage (FNB) supply chain. Additionally, it compares and contrasts the perspectives of two stakeholder groups, FNB managers and technology providers, in order to uncover discrepancies and practical challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a qualitative interpretive method, utilizing the theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) to analyse semi-structured interviews (Appendices 1 and 2). The study involves 16 representatives from 14 companies. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software to identify critical barriers and motivators for BCT adoption.

Findings

Our study reveals that FNB managers and technology providers have a similar understanding of theoretical barriers, such as unreliable immutable data, limited scalability and high costs. However, technology providers tend to overestimate the benefits of BCT. Key barriers identified include data security concerns, the burden on partners, underdeveloped data provenance tools and high implementation costs. Adoption motivators include improved traceability, transparency and efficiency, though FNB managers remain sceptical of these benefits.

Originality/value

This research applies the TFA in the context of blockchain adoption in the FNB sector, offering novel insights into stakeholder perspectives and the sociotechnical challenges of BCT implementation. The findings are relevant to regulators, technology providers and researchers in innovation theory for the FNB sector.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Professor Paolo Biancone, Full Professor in Business Administration and Accounting at the University of Turin, Department of Management “Valter Cantino” for his advisory role in producing this paper.

Citation

Thoukidides, E., Calandra, D. and Gay, P. (2025), "Blockchain for food and beverage supply: expired buzz word or accelerating trend?", British Food Journal, Vol. 127 No. 3, pp. 990-1012. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-08-2024-0788

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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