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The present dissertation addresses logistics challenges in grocery retailing considered in an omni-channel context. Omni-channel retailing gains in importance as online grocery retailing is continuously growing. Besides pure online retailers, traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers are entering the online market. The development of existing structures towards an omni-channel retailing represents a complex challenge. The first contribution of the dissertation analyzes omni-channel distribution concepts for traditional bricks-and-mortar grocery retailers. A multiple-case study with European grocery retailers serves as the basis for the analysis. Since different concepts dominate in the countries, their respective advantages and differences are elaborated. The focus of this research are the central components of a distribution network design, which are the assortment range, the picking system and the last-mile delivery, in terms of delivery mode and time.
In addition to the growing online business, controlling of logistics processes due to volatile demand is a complex task in grocery retailing. Public holidays are a recurring issue in grocery logistics, which is discussed in the second contribution. The ban on working on holidays in Germany means that grocery retailers have less time to perform the logistics processes. In addition, there is usually a higher weekly volume to manage than in standard weeks. Although holiday weeks are prepared in detail, many challenges have to be met on an ad hoc basis. Consequently, the focus of the analysis of holiday issues is on the operational planning areas of demand planning and disposition, warehouse management and transport management. The results of the second contribution provide potential measures for efficiently and effectively controlling the planning areas considered around public holidays.
The third issue considers the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic for the German grocery retailing. In contrast to the public holiday challenge, the outbreak of the pandemic led to unexpected demand peaks and uncertainties. Using an exploratory research approach, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the planning and execution areas of demand planning and order dispatching, store management, transport management, warehouse management and procurement is highlighted. Based on a two year review, trends for the German grocery retailing are identified. The findings show in which direction logistics processes might be further developed in order to meet the potential future requirements.
The cumulative dissertation includes the three studies described, which contribute to the qualitative research of omni-channel retail logistics. Current challenges of the grocery retail industry are examined from a European, especially a German perspective. The exploratively generated results provide courses of action for volatile and disruptive times as well as possible development directions for grocery retailers.