Supply Chain Management Practices and Operational Efficiency: Evidence from Food Processing Companies in Anambra State

This research examines the impact of supply chain management (SCM) practices on operational efficiency among food processing companies in Anambra State, located in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. Effective supply chain management is widely recognised as a critical driver of cost reduction, product quality assurance, and timely delivery in the food processing industry. This study adopts a survey research design, with questionnaires administered to 100 operations managers, procurement officers, and logistics supervisors from twelve food processing firms in Onitsha and Awka. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The study evaluates five SCM dimensions: supplier relationship management, inventory control, demand forecasting, logistics coordination, and information sharing. Results indicate that supplier relationship management and logistics coordination are the most significant predictors of operational efficiency. Inventory control practices were found to be inconsistent across firms, leading to recurring product wastage and stockout situations. Information sharing with upstream and downstream supply chain partners was rated as the weakest SCM dimension, limiting collaborative planning capabilities. The study recommends that food processors in Anambra State adopt enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools to improve information integration, formalise supplier evaluation frameworks, and invest in cold chain logistics infrastructure. Keywords: supply chain management, operational efficiency, food processing, Anambra State, logistics.