In recent years strictly coordinated supply chains have gained in importance in the agri-food business sector. In this context this article aims to provide a review of the state of the art of verticalisation and of supply chain management in agri-food business. Because today food retailers can be considered to be one of the most powerful actors in this sector the article also aims to provide an overview of the connection between retail developments and verticalisation. The proposition in this article is that retailers can be regarded as drivers of supply chain integration and their role in supply chain management is confirmed by recent developments in ‘new markets’ such as China, India, and Russia.