Investigating the Interaction of Digital Capabilities, Sustainable Practices, Product Quality, and Customer Satisfaction in Perishable Food Supply Chains

ABSTRACT To ensure efficient delivery of perishable food products, food supply chains (FSCs) have advanced the usage of recent technologies and started integrating them into logistical systems. This study examines the interplay between digital capabilities, sustainable practices, logistical networks, and customer satisfaction in perishable FSCs through a cross‐sectional survey of 416 Indian consumers. It draws on a comprehensive literature review that highlights the potential variables and their impacts on the perishable FSCs. The data was collected using a five‐point Likert‐scale questionnaire, analyzed using partial least squares‐structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM), and robustness was ensured by Harman's test. The study integrates value percept theory (VPT) to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework that explains how digital capabilities and sustainable practices enhance product quality and customer satisfaction in perishable FSCs. The findings from the study explicitly support the positive moderating role of logistical networks in the relationship between digital capabilities and product quality. The findings can assist management professionals operating in the perishable food sector in enhancing their theoretical and practical comprehension of the profound influence exerted by digital capabilities, sustainable practices, and logistical networks on the crucial nexus between product quality and customer satisfaction.