INCLUSIVE GROWTH BY MEANS OF SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS: A CASE STUDY OF THE DABBAWALAS OF MUMBAI, INDIA

Abstract

As India emerges to become a major player in the global economy, it is essential to understand some of the unique business models that have emerged interacting with its cultural economy and found a place in its developmental trajectory. Of these, the dabbawalas of Mumbai is worth a special mention. The dabbawalas constitute a lunchbox delivery and return system that delivers hot lunches from homes and restaurants to people at work in India. Based on primary research and more recent literature, this paper provides updated perspectives on the dabbawala business with special focus on the sustainability of their business model. It discusses the dabbawala system performance along multiple aspects of sustainability. The basis of competitive advantage of the dabbawala business model is presented an emergent phenomenon from the cultural logic of the ecosystem.