Investigating capabilities of Food Hubs in short food supply chains

Food Hubs (FHs) have been presented as a possible intermediary increasing competitive advantage of SFSCs. However, research on the capabilities of FHs related to sustainability indicators is limited. This study aims to investigate the capabilities of FHs and its relation to sustainability by conducting explorative case studies in Sweden. Six FHs have been investigated through semi-structured interviews, observations, documentation and archival records. Their capabilities have been presented in this study categorized in operations management, producer support and community engagement. Findings show that the FHs operational capabilities are close to conventional intermediaries, while their relational capabilities are unique resources contribution to competitive advantage. With a focus on economic and environmental sustainability in their capabilities, FH’s capabilities related to social sustainability such as community engagement is less present. Given the role of community engagement in achieving economies of scale, FHs should strengthen these relational capabilities to enhance their competitive advantage within SFSCs. The paper concludes by outlining directions for future research.