Supply Chain Resilience: Addressing Pandemic-Driven Disruptions in the Malaysian Retail Food Sector for Gerontology

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in Malaysia’s retail food supply chain, disproportionately affecting elderly consumers due to their reliance on traditional shopping methods and limited digital literacy. This study examines the intersection of supply chain resilience and gerontology, focusing on the challenges faced by aging populations during pandemic-driven disruptions. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative surveys with 300 elderly consumers and qualitative interviews with 30 supply chain stakeholders and policymakers. Findings reveal that urban elderly populations faced more severe food access issues due to supermarket supply chain breakdowns, while rural elderly relied on localized food networks but encountered logistical delays. Digital adoption among elderly consumers remained low, with only 35% in urban and 25% in rural areas using online grocery platforms, primarily due to digital illiteracy and financial constraints. The study highlights the need for localized food distribution networks, elderly-friendly digital solutions, and inclusive policy frameworks to enhance supply chain resilience. These insights contribute to the Supply Chain Resilience Theory (SCRT) by emphasizing the importance of demographic-specific strategies in crisis management. The research calls for a paradigm shift toward consumer-centric resilience models that prioritize the needs of aging populations in future crises.