Stock control and supplier relationships at the local pub in a market town: a case study investigation into effective demand management

Towers, Neil and Pratten, John D. (2003) Stock control and supplier relationships at the local pub in a market town: a case study investigation into effective demand management. British food journal, 105 (9). pp. 591-601. ISSN 0007-070X

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Abstract

There are about 60,000 public houses in the UK that operate in a diverse retail sector from the wholly independent small business to the corporate brewery managed public house. The publican in all these establishments have the common aim of being able to service the customer who demands supply from a range of available beverages. Each publican has access to a variety of formal and informal mechanisms to ensure that their stocking policies relate to current demand requirements. The relationships of the publican with their product suppliers are embedded in the objective of supply chain management to minimise costs associated with their operation whilst maximising service levels to the customer. This paper seeks to develop the understanding of how publicans develop relationships with their suppliers and their stock holding policy considerations, using a case study approach.