**6. Conclusions**

The results of the research and the testing of the set hypotheses showed that there are indicators that can have significant negative effects on the sustainability and functionality of the FSC in the segment of wholesale and retail activities. These are, in descending order of impact, the coordination and transfer of information (r = 0.861), economic performance (r = 0.628), external elements (r = 0.801), chemical and microbial contamination (r = 0.420), and control of flows of raw materials, food, and waste (r = 0.266). In addition, this research proved that the digitization process significantly affects critical indicators, except for external factors. The results showed that digitization of the FSC in the segment of wholesale and retail activities minimizes negative effects and improves the coordination and transfer of information (r = 0.758), food loss and/or waste (r = 0.426), chemical and microbial contamination (r = 0.517), transaction costs (r = 0.228), and control of flows of raw materials, food, and waste (r = 0.376). Thereby, the digitalization process directly contributes (r = 0.863) to greater sustainability and flexibility within the FSC. This answered the research question in that. through the implementation of the digitization process and the application of modern technologies based on IoT, BT, DLT, TTI, RFID, etc., the challenges of food placement can be eliminated, and the FSC can be made more flexible. Based on the findings of this study, this paper proposes a whole set of economic, financial, organizational, and technical measures and incentives that should be applied by FSC management in the segment of wholesale and retail activities to effectively digitize its business processes, minimize the negative effects of critical indicators, and increase the functionality and transparency of the food market.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, N.Z. and R.M.; systematic literature review G.V., methodology, N.Z.; investigation, T.Ð.-M.; formal analysis, R.M.; data curation, T.Ð.-M.; writing—original draft preparation, N.Z.; visualization, G.V.; supervision, R.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
