Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess and document the key aspects in Zara's
success by identifing current gaps, and to provide direction for future research efforts.
Design/methodology/approach – Zara's case studies and literature published from 2001 to
2010 was reviewed.
Findings – The review summarizes significant aspects of Zara success, many of which at least
partially addressed in previous research.
Research limitations/implications – This effort is not an exhaustive review of all research
published for Zara. This review does not consider unpublished papers, papers in non-academic
journals, or papers presented at conferences.
Practical implications – This review is a useful resource for supply chain researchers
interested in agile supply chain and retailers willing to learn the key aspects of Zara's success in
agile supply chain.
Originality/value – This paper uses the findings of other researchers as a measure of the
achievements of Zara against academic theory. The gaps identified and challenges made will
serve as a foundation upon which future researchers can build.
Keywords Supply chain management, Agile supply chain, Zara case study analysis
Paper type Case Study Analysis