Abstract
Mega-events, such as the forthcoming Expo 2015 Universal Exposition, have been defined as large-scale cultural events that run for a limited time, are "stage-managed", have popular mass appeal and enjoy international significance. Mega-events pose a number of special problems in terms of logistics management. One of the tasks of logistics during mega-events is to support the replenishment of food supplies to the venues. Considering that the theme of Expo 2015 is "Feeding the planet, energy for life", the role of food in this event significantly soars, since food will be the main character for the participant countries and for the attendants. Given this background, the objective of this study is to present a systematic framework to design the logistics operations for supporting the food replenishment flows of Expo 2015. This framework considers Expo 2015 specific characteristics, the peculiarities of its venue, as well as lessons learned from previous events. It allowed to define the characterization of the players of the food supply chains within Expo and of their logistics requirements, to identify the most suitable business model with reference to the role of the Organizing Committee in the management of the logistics operations, to identify the most suitable logistics model with reference to the processes included in the replenishment of food to the venue and to define the necessary logistics resources in terms of warehousing spaces, vehicles, materials handling equipment and manpower.