The food supply chain in the restaurant industry: A case study from Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

In gastronomy, as in other businesses, products used in restaurants or bars undergo a long process with many stages. It begins with the raw materials, followed by refining, processing and assembly. At the last stage the final product reaches the restaurant guests. The process is referred to as a supply chain and there are several ways to manage it. This chapter pays attention to the geographical aspects of this phenomenon. From this point of view, an important consideration is that suppliers often have their headquarters and warehouses in the suburbs, and buyers, primarily restaurants and bars, are usually located in the city centre. The chapter gives an example of a Polish company operating in Warsaw, which provides supplies to catering establishments, analysing the geographical distribution of its suppliers and customers.