Physical distribution practices and supply chain performance nexus in Zimbabwe’s beverage manufacturing sector: the moderating role of organizational resilience

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between physical distribution practices and supply performance in beverage manufacturing firms in Harare, Zimbabwe. This study also explored the moderating role of organizational resilience in this relationship. This study used a quantitative approach, employing a structured questionnaire administered to 113 employees in the beverage manufacturing industry. The data were analyzed via multiple and hierarchical regression techniques to test both direct and moderating associations. The findings indicate that route optimization, order fulfillment lead time, packaging, and return management are positively associated with supply chain performance. In addition, organizational resilience significantly moderated the relationships among route optimization, return management, packaging, and order fulfillment lead time. The originality of this study lies in its empirical demonstration of organisational resilience as a factor that moderates the association within the physical distribution–performance nexus, an area that remains underexplored in the Global South, particularly in Zimbabwe. Integrating organizational resilience into this relationship provides a novel theoretical lens for understanding how resilience is associated with supply chain performance under disruption-prone conditions. This study recommends beverage manufacturing firms to institutionalize resilience-building through scenario planning tools, comprehensive risk assessments, and proactive risk response frameworks to improve their preparedness for volatile environments.