The role of signalling to understand sustainability orientation and supply network engagement: a case in the UK food retail sector

A recent redefinition of sustainability sets the natural environment and society as external constraints to firms. The food sector, characterised by concentration of power within buying firms, is particularly pressured by supply scarcity, transparency and traceability. Firms need to consider their approach to supply chain management as reality has most starkly demonstrated the reputational damage through media exposure of unsatisfactory ethical or environmental performance by key suppliers. This paper draws upon stakeholder theory, resource-dependence theory, and signalling theory to explain impact of stakeholder groups to managerial perception of uncertainty and influence on firm’s resource allocation, sustainability orientation and signalling efforts.