A questionable relationship in the local food supply chain

What type of business relationship does your local restaurant have with its local farmers and food producers? This article explores the inter-organisational relationship between food service provider and local producer as they carry out their activity along the local food supply chain. In order to determine whether a collaborative relationship exists between these actors of the food chain the variables communication cooperation balance of power and trust were examined in turn. Each were looked at as the actors conducted their activities throughout three processes of the food chain sourcing produce distributing produce and delivering produce to the end customer. Is there an imbalance of power between these two actors? Is there a good level of understanding and trust with one another? Is there cooperation in order to overcome the challenges that the larger wholesale manufacturers and supply chains present? Lastly is their regular communication with one another through the stages of “farm to fork”. Can a local food supply chain be successful?