Pandemic Disruptions and Supply Chain Resilience: A Retail Food Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted global supply chains, particularly in the retail food sector, highlighting the need for resilient and adaptive supply chain management strategies. This study investigates the impact of pandemic-related disruptions on the Malaysian retail food supply chain, focusing on identifying key drivers of disruption and developing optimized mitigation strategies to enhance resilience. Using secondary data from annual reports of 15 Malaysian retail food companies, the research employs financial metrics such as Current Ratio, Quick Ratio, Net Profit Margin, and Return on Assets (ROA) to analyze pre-pandemic (2017–2019) and during-pandemic (2020–2022) performance. The study utilizes both correlation and regression models, including Linear Regression and Random Forest, to predict financial performance and assess the effectiveness of various supply chain strategies. Key findings reveal that liquidity management, operational efficiency, and cost control were critical factors influencing ROA during the pandemic. The analysis also highlights the importance of inventory management and fixed asset utilization in maintaining supply chain resilience. Furthermore, the research develops a machine learning model for predictive analytics, integrating the results into an interactive Power BI dashboard to facilitate data-driven decision-making. The dashboard provides visualizations of financial trends, model performance, and attribute contributions, enabling stakeholders to identify vulnerabilities and implement targeted strategies. The study concludes that businesses must adopt proactive measures, such as diversifying suppliers, optimizing inventory, and leveraging digital technologies, to mitigate the impact of future disruptions. By enhancing supply chain resilience, Malaysian retail food companies can better navigate economic uncertainties and ensure the continuity of operations in the face of global challenges.