Augmenting Halal Food Integrity through Supply Chain Integration (Menambah Baik Integriti Makanan Melalui Integrasi Rantaian Bekalan) Mohd Helmi Ali Zafr Mohd Makhbul (Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) Kim Hua Tan (Business School, University of Nottingham) Abdul Hafaz Ngah (Commerce Department, Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah) ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of the supply chain integration in augmenting food integrity from the perspective of the focal companies. A series of case studies in four halal food supply chain (fast food, kopitiam, casual dining, and fresh processed food) in Malaysia were conducted in understanding the companies’ best practices in safeguarding halal food integrity. The fndings from the case studies were then suited and discussed in the paradigm of arc of integration theory. The results provide strong empirical evidence on how a stronger supply chain integration could enhance halal food integrity. Theoretically, this paper advances supply chain integration paradigm discussion into food industry. It offers a novel understanding of supply chain integration relevancy in food industry and in particular the supply chain integration strategy in safeguarding halal food integrity. In addition, the paper offers propositions on how halal integrity could be better achieved through a range of integration strategies. In practice, the paper offers a way forward to the managers in selecting the most relevant type of supply chain integration practices. Kata kunci: Supply chain integration; halal; food integrity ABSTRAK Tujuan artikel ini adalah untuk mengetengahkan kepentingan integrasi rantaian bekalan dalam mengukuhkan integriti makanan dari perspektif syarikat pengeluar. Satu siri kajian kes di empat halal rantaian bekalan makanan (makanan segera, kopitiam, makan kasual, dan makanan diproses segar) di Malaysia telah dijalankan dalam memahami amalan terbaik syarikat-syarikat ‘dalam menjaga integriti makanan halal. Hasil penemuan daripada kajian kes disesuaikan dan dibincangkan dalam paradigma teori “arc of integration.” Dapatan kajian telah memberikan bukti empirikal yang kukuh tentang bagaimana integrasi rantaian bekalan yang lebih kukuh boleh meningkatkan integriti makanan halal. Secara teorinya, artikel ini menambah perbincangan berkenaan integrasi rantaian bekalan dalam industri makanan. Ianya juga memberikan pemahaman yang baharu berkaitan integrasi rantaian bekalan yang relevan dalam industri makanan dan khususnya strategi integrasi rantaian bekalan dalam menjaga integriti makanan halal. Di samping itu, artikel ini mancadangakan beberapa usul tentang bagaimana integriti halal boleh dicapai dengan lebih baik melalui pelbagai strategi integrasi. Secara praktikal, artikel ini boleh membantu pengurus dalam memilih jenis amalan integrasi rantaian bekalan yang paling relevan. Keywords: Integrasi rantaian bekalan; halal; integriti makanan INTRODUCTION The July 2013 UK horse meat scandals triggered a series of debates on food integrity in the global supply chain. The integrity scandal is not new as there are a few of known preceding cases that impacted food industry in many means. For example, 2009 US Salmonella outbreak in peanut butter and European dioxin contamination in pork products, 2008 China Melamine milk scandal, and 2014 Cadbury Chocolate scandal impacted the industries with a product recalls (Marucheck, Greis, Mena & Cai 2011; Roth, Tsay, Pullman & Gray 2008; Tse & Tan 2011). A consistency in the scandals that occurs over the globes and time indicates that the issues of food integrity are intense and suggesting that the current food control mechanism is insuffcient in addressing food issues, especially food integrity (Ali, Tan, Pawar & Makhbul 2014; Roth et al. 2008). In macro perspective, myriads of laws, legislation, and standards enforcement in the food industry are introduced to the food industry as to ensure the quality of the food products. However, the scandals revealed that there are existing gap which is essential to be discovered. The shortfall of the standards is argued (see Powell et al. 2013). Furthermore, it is criticized by Roth (2008) that the audits are non-sustainable in the long run in ensuring the survival of the food industries. Moreover, the food industries façade has change signifcantly over the time due to the impact of globalization and modernization of many aspects in the business such as corporatization, and logistics. The changes has made the food supply chain Artkl 2 (48) (Dis 2016).indd 21 31/01/2017 15:57:57 Jurnal Pengurusan 48(2016) 21 – 31 http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/pengurusan-2016-48-02