Resilient retail: Transforming inventory strategies to navigate port disruptions

Orientation: Global supply chains are increasingly vulnerable to systemic disruptions, especially in port-centric logistics networks in emerging markets. South Africa’s Port of Durban, a critical point for retail supply chains, has experienced frequent inefficiencies, compounding the risks faced by import-dependent retailers. Research purpose: This study investigates how inventory strategies, particularly those grounded in supply chain resilience theory (SCRT), can be reimagined to mitigate the impact of chronic port disruptions in South Africa. Motivation for the study: While SCRT has been widely explored in developed contexts, its applicability to emerging economies with infrastructural volatility and institutional constraints remains under-examined. This article addresses that gap by focusing on disruption-prone environments. Research design, approach and method: The article adopts a structured conceptual methodology, synthesising academic literature published between 2013 and 2024 and integrating industry reports, trade publications and case-based insights. The approach involves thematic synthesis and comparative analysis, with attention to limitations inherent in desktop research. Main findings: The analysis reveals that lean, just-in-time (JIT) systems are increasingly unsustainable in South Africa’s port environment. Resilience-oriented strategies, such as redundancy, collaboration and digital visibility, provide stronger protection for retail supply chains. Inventory redundancy, though cost-intensive, emerges as a strategic asset rather than a liability. Practical/managerial implications: Retailers are encouraged to adopt modular, context-sensitive adaptations of SCRT, including selective redundancy for high-margin products, supplier diversification and technology-driven visibility. Policymakers should prioritise infrastructural modernisation and improved port governance. Contribution/value-add: This article contributes to supply chain resilience literature by adapting SCRT to the realities of emerging markets and by proposing a revised conceptual framework for inventory structuring under disruption. It highlights the importance of balancing efficiency and resilience in high-risk port environments. Policy and managerial implications include prioritising infrastructural upgrades, promoting public-private collaboration and adopting modular, context-sensitive inventory strategies to enhance supply chain resilience in emerging market retail.