Tackling food waste: unveiling causes, implications and solutions in Oman's fresh and short food supply chain

Purpose This study investigates food waste within the food supply chain (FSC), for the case of fresh and short FSC (FS-FSC), aiming to (1) reveal the major causes of waste across FSC (2) identify the food waste mitigation strategies, (3) measure food waste impacts at each supply stream, and (4) propose practical initiatives to support decision/policymakers in strategic food waste management, especially in the case country. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a mixed-method approach to investigating food waste, examining existing literature using template analysis. The focus is on three key elements: factors enabling food waste, its final destinations, and strategies to reduce it. The study then gathers information from a prominent regional retailer and consumers through interviews and surveys. The empirical data collected is then analysed using template analysis and descriptive statistics. Findings This research highlights key waste enablers across the food supply chain networks, including procurement and storage, processing, operation strategy, people, and consumers. The enablers differed in the amount of food waste produced, and the research outcome demonstrates that the end consumers were the largest contributors to the food waste generated. The changes in people's habits and tastes significantly affect the FS-FSC. Interestingly, results demonstrated that 40% of consumers utilise food leftovers as pet food. Practical implications The proposed food waste management initiatives can help companies minimise and mitigate food waste at each supply chain stage. Practitioners can use the identified causes and mitigation strategies to implement mitigation efforts and translate them into actionable plans. Originality/value The article outlines a practical approach for addressing food waste in an FS-FSC case throughout the entire chain, encompassing supply, distribution, catering, delivery, and consumption. The study not only sheds light on the primary reasons for food wastage but also provides insights into potential solutions that are not only effective but also feasible in real-world scenarios.