Title: Multi-objective design of multi-modal fresh food distribution networks

Authors: Marco Bortolini; Maurizio Faccio; Mauro Gamberi; Francesco Pilati

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, Bologna, 40136, Italy ' Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padua, Stradella San Nicola 3, Vicenza, 36100, Italy ' Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padua, Stradella San Nicola 3, Vicenza, 36100, Italy ' Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padua, Stradella San Nicola 3, Vicenza, 36100, Italy

Abstract: This paper presents a methodology to jointly minimise the operating cost, the carbon footprint and the delivery time in the design of multi-modal fresh food distribution networks. A tri-objective linear programming model optimises such criteria overcoming the widely adopted methodologies focused on the network cost minimisation, only. A practical selection rule supports the final network structure definition, leading to an effective trade-off among the three objective functions. The market demand supply, the producer capacity limits and the food quality decrease during shipment, i.e., perishability, limit the feasibility region. The paper applies the proposed model to an industrial case study dealing with the distribution of fruits and vegetables from a set of Italian producers to multiple European retailers through a multi-modal (truck, train and air) distribution network. The case study key results suggest the possibility to reduce the CO₂ emissions without relevant cost increase.

Keywords: food distribution networks; multi-objective optimisation; multi-modal shipment; fresh food; supply chain management; SCM; perishability; carbon footprint; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; sustainability; operating costs; delivery times; food supply chains; linear programming; market demand; producer capacity; food quality; fruit and vegetables; Italy; intermodal transport; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2016.076470

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2016 Vol.24 No.2, pp.155 - 177

Received: 10 Jan 2015
Accepted: 01 Mar 2015
Published online: 10 May 2016 *

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