Understanding the role of trust and power dynamics in technology-supported food supply chains

Technology-supported food supply chains involve multiple stakeholders seeking transparent information exchange to enhance sustainability, compliance, and trust. Yet, trust deficits and power imbalances hinder data flow, undermining traceability and weakening sustainability efforts. While the influence of trust and power in traditional supply chains is gaining research attention, an empirical gap remains in understanding how these dynamics shift with the integration of digital technologies in the catering and hospitality sector. This study explores how trust and power dynamics influence information sharing in digital food supply chains. Based on qualitative data from 17 stakeholder interviews, the analysis identifies systemic barriers and enabling factors shaping information-sharing practices. The findings highlight a need for incentivization approaches unique to the food sector regarding transparency, collaboration, and trust in digital food supply chains.