The Practice and Theory of Strategic Purchasing: A Case Study of an International Food Company Repositioning Its Relationship to Suppliers

Abstract

Strategic purchasing has gained recognition as an approach to change management for the purpose of enhancing competitive edge. In this case study, a major international food company decided to upgrade its purchasing practices in the Asia-Pacific region by launching a dual strategy, called the “Purchasing Blitz” and the “Learning Journey”, not only to lower it’s costs but also to renew the relationship with suppliers and to reposition the company for the future. The paper describes the process as a narrative account, produces formative evidence to illustrate the performance of the dual strategy and makes exploratory links with the conceptual literature on strategic purchasing.