Final answer:
The term describing the business chain from production to end consumer is the 'supply chain'. It encompasses all stages, from material sourcing to final purchase. The value chain is a related concept detailing the stages of production, often across different firms and locations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the chain of businesses through which a good or service passes until it reaches the end consumer is the supply chain. The supply chain includes all the steps involved in getting a product from its initial conception through production to the final purchase by the end user, including the sourcing of materials, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. A similar concept, known as the value chain, describes how a good is produced in stages and can involve various firms operating in different locales.
It starts with the raw materials or components being sourced, then moves through various stages of production, warehousing, transportation, and retail until the final product reaches the consumer.