Mass Retail Research Articles

‘Let’s brew a new Brussels’: imaginaries of the circular economy

Abstract In this paper, I mobilise the notion of imaginaries to analyse a case of the circular economy (CE) in the region of Brussels, Belgium, where bread surplus from mass retail is upcycled to produce a local and more sustainable beer. I examine circular imaginaries and how they are translated into urban practices and materialised in the city. My analysis shows that the craft and post-industrial narratives of new circular products may find a positive echo at the urban level when re-development strategies to attract new productive activities mobilise similar narratives of creativity, innovation and craft skills. It concludes that CE risks becoming a rallying signifier helping to support a discourse coalition on the productive and circular city.

Exploring consumer segments for online food provisioning services: Online supermarkets vs. alternative food networks

Recent years have witnessed a surge in online food provisioning services spanning from online mass retail to alternative food networks with digital sales platforms. Hence, enhancing our understanding of consumer preferences in the digital food space is vital, as digitalization holds significant potential to alter consumer habits within the food sector. To address this, we surveyed a representative sample of Norwegian consumers. We employed best-worst scaling to assess their preferences for eighteen characteristics derived from a variety of online food provisioning services. The characteristics covered business model elements such as key partners, resources, activities, distribution channels, and customer relations. Our findings identify two consumer segments. The first segment, labeled the Convenience segment, prioritizes efficient delivery and user-friendly interfaces, characteristics that resonate with online supermarket services. The second segment labeled the Local segment, prioritizes a wide range of locally and sustainably produced food in line with the ethos of alternative food networks. Notably, the latter segment, accounting for 48 % of the respondents, views several of the convenience characteristics derived from online mass retail as important. Taking the convenience preferences of the Local segment into account could broaden the appeal of alternative food networks and other sustainability-oriented niche providers to a wider range of consumers.

Concepts of place in British womenswear advertising, 1880–1914

ABSTRACT The mass retailing of fashionable clothing is a practice which is bounded both by time, since each season’s new styles renders previous garments obsolete, and by space, as innovations are promoted as sanctioned by fashion capitals such as Paris, London, or New York. This study of fashion advertising in British national periodicals from 1880–1914 reflects on the historiography of retailing, from Jefferys to Breward and Stobart, which often makes strong distinctions between London and the provinces. Case studies of two retailers with multiple branches, H.J. Nicoll and Alfred Stedall, and of two retailers selling through mail-order, John Noble and Pryce Jones, will examine the methods used to sell goods internationally, nationally and locally. These case studies will draw on unpublished publicity documents in the National Archives and other collections, and on advertisements in national and local newspapers. An analysis of discourses of place in fashion magazines will investigate the ways in which magazines acted as virtual spaces in which readers could both receive and offer information. This will lead on to a consideration of Appadurai and Augé’s concepts of space, place and non-place in consumption, and the applicability of these to earlier periods.

C’ing is believing: What types of characteristics are found on bottles of wine? Do more characteristics mean more online presence?

ABSTRACT Wine bottles feature various textual and visual elements. Aside from necessary legal information, wine-branding decision-makers choose what goes on the bottle. They may also choose a bottle shape that is out of the ordinary to draw more attention. Rather than a cork, they may opt for a screwcap so that the opening of the bottle requires no corkscrew. The bottle’s base may be flat, or it may be concave. In sum, decisions are made either to blend in with the other wines on the shelf or to stand out. This research set out to tackle two subjects. Firstly, what are these characteristics and how can they be called? Secondly, are wines with more characteristics also more present online? This article proposes a framework, “The C Matrix”, codifying these characteristics so that they all begin with the letter “C”. Still, white, rose and red wines sold by three different mass retailers in Los Angeles (LA) County in California in the USA priced between US$5 and US$15 were studied. LA is an important market in terms of volume consumed. Furthermore, the presence of both domestic and foreign wines makes it an interesting place for a wine-packaging study. The US is the largest country importer of wine in volume and in value. The goal is to better understand what types of characteristics are featured on a mid-range bottle of wine in this lucrative yet competitive market. Calculations reveal a slightly positive coefficient correlation, namely wines with more bottle characteristics are also more prevalent online. This may mean that, in LA, it is beneficial to provide more information and to stand out from crowd.

Peculiarities of retail development in the context of a new paradigm of economic development

The article emphasizes the significant attention of scientists and practitioners to retail trade in modern conditions, its importance for maintaining social stability in the country. The peculiarities of retail development in the conditions of a new paradigm of economic development, which is characterized by sustainable development, digitalization of the economy, social responsibility, and partnership, are determined. Theoretical substantiation of issues of evolution, regularities and features of the development of retail and marketing activities of retail market entities in modern conditions, the role of retail in ensuring the social quality of life of the population in war conditions is the purpose of the article. The research used a set of such methods as monographic and dialectical, abstract-logical, comparison and generalization, graphic and tabular ones, which made it possible to achieve the goal set in the article. Theoretical approaches to the concepts of "retail trade" and "retail" are substantiated, and it is determined that scientists separate retail into a separate economic category and believe that it has its own economic meaning and differences. Attention is focused on the rapid response of organized retail to the effects of the external environment, due to the fact that it is an open system, includes in its structure trading establishments of various formats and sizes, and uses multiple models of interaction with consumers, manufacturers, suppliers, and the public. Network retail as a form of organization of mass retail trade is characterized, and the classification of networks with the author's criterion characteristic "by the place of legal registration of the final beneficiary" being highlighted is summarized. Attention is focused on the performance of classic functions by retail: intermediary one; promotion of goods and services; sales promotion; ensuring ease of purchase; ensuring customer loyalty; making a profit, however, because of the war, retailers in Ukraine have two more important functions - ensuring social quality of life of the population and providing food for the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine. The study of the essence, functions and features of retail, marketing tools that are transformed in the context of the implementation of the provisions of the new paradigm of economic development is important for the rapid adaptation of retail market players to modern conditions of development

Parliamentary Dress

Parliamentary Dress

E-commerce: Home delivery, a new trend and a preferred alternative for the Moroccan mass retail distribution towards the crisis of covid-19

E-commerce: Home delivery, a new trend and a preferred alternative for the Moroccan mass retail distribution towards the crisis of covid-19

IMPROVING THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC EFFECTIVENESS OF ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SERVICES IN A GLOBAL DIGITAL ECONOMY

Digitalization ensured a revolutionary change in the ways of delivering and consuming financial services, in particular payment services. One of the key prerequisites for the sustainable operation and development of e-payment systems is the achievement of a high level of effectiveness of e-payment services (EPS), which occurs in the global context of building a digital economy. The goal of the research is to develop the conceptual framework and identify the key areas for improving the economic effectiveness of e-payment services in a global digital economy. The theoretical framework of the research includes: the best practices in the sphere of digital technology, digitalization and digital transformations; a concept of digital economy, determining its structure, technological “core” and contours, and functional features. An enhanced role of the Internet as a general economic infrastructure, being the key for the global quality of digital economy, has been taken into consideration. The methodology of the research is based on an evolutionary approach and includes: historical, systemic and structural, functional, and comparative analysis. The results of the research are represented by a number of theoretical, conceptual and practical provisions. Above all, the essence of FinTech was clarified and the key areas of its development were identified; the crucial importance of the problem of economic effectiveness for this sphere of digital technology was substantiated. The paper identified the essence and specific features of PayTech, which transformed the ways to carry out payment transactions and provide the respective services. The purpose and key components of e-payment systems were clarified as well as the specific features to ensure EPS in various aspects. The attention was drawn to the issues of effective EPS in terms of the provider (related to ensuring mass retail payments using Internet and mobile technologies). Taking into consideration different description models of payment operation, the emphasis was laid on the technological model and functionality of e-payment systems, which demonstrated an integrated approach to achieving the high quality and effectiveness of EPS. Taking into account the external and internal prerequisites to accomplish this, the following strategic areas for improving the economic effectiveness of EPS were identified: 1) enhancing the risk management quality; 2) innovation development; 3) development of the ecosystem of EPS delivery. Every area was clarified in terms of its critical importance, relation to strategic management and marketing, which enables to advance the methodology of creating new e-payment systems or improve the existing ones. Practical recommendations on the intensification of e-payment systems include: governmental support activities for EPS providers; proposals on enhancing the innovative function of regulatory “sandboxes” and expanding the use of the technologies which ensure the compliance with regulatory standards (SupTech and RegTech). Value/originality: the paper specified and identified the focus areas and activities to improve the economic effectiveness of EPS delivery, which is of strategic importance in the global digital economy, being of particular value for future studies.

Broadening the Collective Turn in Marketing: From Consumer Collectives to Consumption Agencements

Broadening the Collective Turn in Marketing: From Consumer Collectives to Consumption Agencements

Solidarity Purchasing Groups as social innovators: an analysis of alternative food networks in Italy

La mercantilización del sector de la comida y la creciente importancia de los minoristas de masas han creado una cadena de suministro desequilibrada donde, sobre todo, los pequeños productores y los consumidores son más débiles. En contra de este escenario, en los últimos veinte años la agricultura y los mercados de proximidad se han ido situando como espacios relevantes de experimentación de prácticas sociales innovadoras con el objetivo de solucionar esta anomalía y de reequilibrar la distribución del valor en el conjunto de cadena de suministro. Las cooperativas de consumo solidario forman parte de estas experiencias innovadoras y pueden representar una de las medidas más relevantes para contrastar el poder de negociación de los minoristas de masa. No obstante, el análisis en este artículo muestra como las cooperativas de consumo solidario son innovaciones sociales que sólo consiguen parcialmente el objetivo de reducir la marginalización económica de sus proveedores al crear una cadena de suministro alternativa.

The Ambivalent Effects of Participation on Performance and Job Stressors: The Role of Job Crafting and Autonomy

ABSTRACTLiterature provides mixed results on the effect of participatory practices on outcomes such as individual performance and job stressors. By examining these relationships via the mediation of job crafting behaviors, while considering the moderating effect of autonomy, we help clarifying the reasons behind the apparently ambiguous effects of participation. We surveyed 318 employees in an Italian mass retail company. On the one hand, we found a positive effect of participation on performance and a reduction of both role conflict and role overload thanks to increased job crafting behaviors aimed at seeking job resources. On the other hand, we also found that participation and autonomy may augment job stressors because of an associated increase of job crafting behaviors aimed at seeking challenging demands.

Evaluation of psychosocial constraints among grocery stores workers in Tunisia

The identification of psychosocial constraints in the sector of mass retail is necessary to set up and guide preventive strategies. To evaluate the prevalence of psychosocial constraints among employees working in a large supermarket chains. A descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted in employees of grocery stores. The study was based on a questionnaire exploring their socio-professional characteristics and on the Karasek questionnaire. 245 workers participated in the study. The average age was 32.4±6.4 years. Sex-ratio was 0.84. Occupational seniority was 6.3 years (min=1 year; max=18 years). The category of employees was the most represented (56%); the cashiers and the executives represented respectively 24.5 and 19.5%. A job strain situation was observed in 28.2 % of cases. It varied significantly with occupational seniority (p=0.03). The employees and the cashiers represented the most exposed posts. A high job demands was observed in 48,2% of the cases. The employees working in a supermarket are more exposed than those working in a minimarket (p<0,001). A low job control was found in 61.2 % of cases. It was more important among the employees having a permanent employment contract (p=0.01). A low job suport was found in 65,3% of cases. A situation of isostrain was observed in 20%. According our results, workers in grocery stores are exposed to psychosocial risk factor. The implementation of strategies to reduce stress factors at work is required.

Consumer Preference Heterogeneity Evaluation in Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing Decisions Using the Best-Worst Approach.

This study assesses consumer preferences during fruit and vegetable (FV) sales, considering the sociodemographic variables of individuals together with their choice of point of purchase. A choice experiment was conducted in two metropolitan areas in Northwest Italy. A total of 1170 consumers were interviewed at different FV purchase points (mass retail chains and open-air markets) using a paper questionnaire. The relative importance assigned by consumers to 12 fruit and vegetable product attributes, including both intrinsic and extrinsic quality cues, was assessed by using the best–worst scaling (BWS) methodology. The BWS results showed that “origin”, “seasonality”, and “freshness” were the most preferred attributes that Italian consumers took into account for purchases, while no importance was given to “organic certification”, “variety”, or “brand”. Additionally, a latent class analysis was employed to divide the total sample into five different clusters of consumers, characterized by the same preferences related to FV attributes. Each group of individuals is described on the basis of sociodemographic variables and by the declared fruit and vegetable point of purchase. This research demonstrates that age, average annual income, and families with children are all discriminating factors that influence consumer preference and behavior, in addition to affecting which point of purchase the consumer prefers to acquire FV products from.

Сегментирование потребительского рынка продуктов питания города Зеленограда для предприятий розничной сети формата «магазин у дома»

Сегментирование потребительского рынка продуктов питания города Зеленограда для предприятий розничной сети формата «магазин у дома»

Farm products' direct sale in accordance with national and EC Regulations.

Primary production has always been considered the weak link in the entire food production chain (from farm to fork) and, due also to the grave health and food emergencies that have taken place over the years (BSE, dioxin, avian flu etc.), greater attention has been focused on the production stage, together with the need to regain the consumers’ faith. To preserve and support small farms in a local setting and, consistent with the aims of flexibility and respecting the main requisites contained in the EC Regulations (No. 852/2004; No. 853/2004) (European Commission, 2004; 2004a), production is allowed for tastingadministration on the premises and the processing and sales of agricultural products produced exclusively on the farm, such as: fresh meat from poultry and rabbits and small farmed wild animals; processed meats obtained from animals raised on the farm and from hunting; fishing and aquaculture products; raw milk for direct human consumption and dairy products; eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables, woodland products; jams and preserved fruit, flours, vegetable preserves, wild above ground and underground mushrooms; dried fruits, fruit juices, cereals, syrups; oil, wine, bread and baked products. This possibility is reserved for individual farmers or co-operatives, registered in the company register according to Article 8 of the Law 29th December 1993 No. 580 (Italian Republic, 1993); who may sell directly inside and outside farm, products coming mainly from the respective farms, observing the current regulations regarding health and hygiene. All this should provide an instrument for rural and competitive development for the entire European agricultural production chain strongly influenced by the marketing conditions imposed by the mass retailing groups on their own suppliers. Not least is the possibility of creating work and occupation and adequately counteracting the phenomenon of the depopulation of the countryside, encouraging the return to agricultural activities on the part of young people; and, consequently, a form of safeguarding the environment by reducing the costs linked to hydro-geological instability and soil maintenance. This trend, together with the national directions, may represent a support even for small local farms which, taking advantage of simplified procedures consistent with the objectives of flexibility of the community Regulations (EC) (No. 852/2004; No. 853/2004) (European Commission, 2004; 2004a), may take part in the promotion of agricultural markets managed directly by the farmers as sales points for local products (farmers’ markets), so as to guarantee a fairer price and consolidate the territorial link between production and consumption (short distribution chain or short circuit). Without, of course, renouncing the necessary prerequisites for placing any food on the market: health-hygiene; traceability; health and well-being of the animals; safeguarding of the environment and the plants.

Heterogeneity of logistics facilities: an issue for a better understanding and planning of the location of logistics facilities

In the last few years, the issue of the location of logistics activities emerged in the literature, in Europe and in the United States, especially from the perspective of logistics spatial dynamics as logistics sprawl. These issues of spatial dynamics question urban policies, because they underline the lack of interest in freight in the planning process. Indeed, one of the major issues in planning logistics facilities is the lack of a good understanding of the logistics sector: it is difficult to guide public action in the absence of detailed and precise data. The great heterogeneity of logistics facilities is often underestimated by public policies. The visibility of some sectors in public policies or academic literature, as parcel industry or e-commerce, hides other sides of logistics as an industry sector. With this paper we underline differences in the location of facilities, which translates into a difficult implementation of public policies to regulate logistics sprawl in the case of the Paris region. This paper studies precisely the location of the warehouses and terminals, and their place in the spatial organization of logistics facilities in the Paris Region. In particular, we compare the location of mass retail and wholesale trade facilities, logistics provider’s facilities and parcel’s industry facilities.

CURRENT TRENDS OF FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

The paper considers the theoretical principles and applied principles concerning financial technologies. Currently, the rapid development of the digital economy has become an important global trend of dynamic socio-economic development, which has led to the spread of financial technology impacts on the entire system and structure of socio-economic relations. It is stated that as FinTech develops, the younger generation is now gaining more access to a wider variety of sophisticated financial products and services, some of which carry higher risks that are not yet known in the market. However, the financial knowledge of the younger generation is generally lower than their parents, as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes. Studies have shown that the trend in the financial sector towards increasing automation, mobility and digitalization of financial services is changing. Blockchain, machine learning, AI and robotics are all creating huge waves in fintech, bringing both synergies and disruption to industry. However, as a result of the implementation of the PSD2 directive, the data that banks need to share is essentially sensitive financial data, and this naturally raises many privacy and security issues along with consumer uncertainty. Considering the international trends in the development of fintech companies, Ukrainian banks are interested in creating joint projects with domestic and foreign fintech representatives. As fintech companies become more mature and technology-oriented, they are faced with the need to invest more in sophisticated software, supported by advanced analytics and personalized marketing campaigns. This brings fintech to a more consumer-oriented state where service providers are driven by the ongoing challenges of society and the need to meet their customers' needs. The major client for most fintech companies is business, both large corporate and SMB (37% for each). 21% of companies operate in the mass retail market, and only 6% target the premium retail segment. Keywords: financial technologies, digitization, blockchain, artificial intelligence, neo-bank, crowdfunding, insurtech, open banking.

Metagenomic profiles of different types of Italian high-moisture Mozzarella cheese

The microbiota of different types of Italian high-moisture Mozzarella cheese produced using cow or buffalo milk, acidified with natural or selected cultures, and sampled at the dairy or at the mass market, was evaluated using a Next Generation Sequencing approach, in order to identify possible drivers of the bacterial diversity. Cow Mozzarella and buffalo Mozzarella acidified with commercial cultures were dominated by Streptococcus thermophilus, while buffalo samples acidified with natural whey cultures showed similar prevalence of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. helveticus and S. thermophilus. Moreover, several species of non-starter lactic acid bacteria were frequently detected. The diversity in cow Mozzarella microbiota was much higher than that of water buffalo samples. Cluster analysis clearly separated cow's cheeses from buffalo's ones, the former having a higher prevalence of psychrophilic taxa, and the latter of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. A higher prevalence of psychrophilic species and potential spoilers was observed in samples collected at the mass retail, suggesting that longer exposures to cooling temperatures and longer production-to-consumption times could significantly affect microbiota diversity. Our results could help in detecting some kind of thermal abuse during the production or storage of mozzarella cheese.

Measuring supply chain performance: a lifecycle framework and a case study

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework of the supply chain performance measurement system (SCPMS) lifecycle (highlighting key activities of the design, implementation, use and review phases) and to investigate how the different actors involved in the SCPMS perceive the system and can act to allow for an effective adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe SCPMS lifecycle framework is developed grounding on performance measurement and supply chain (SC) management literature. To answer the two theory-building research questions, an in-depth case study involving seven firms across three tiers of the mass retail SC has been conducted.FindingsThe empirical evidence highlighted potential SCPMS benefits (including operational performance improvement, higher control, lower information overloading and higher SC integration) and criticalities/barriers to an effective adoption (lack of industry standards, lack of trust regarding data reliability, SCPMS as a tool of power, lack of interest in the system and the performance metrics). Several elements characterizing the SCPMS lifecycle could increase its effective adoption: engaging SC partners in the design phase; relying on a rigorous primary data collection and performance measures calculation; and actively exploiting the tool through a systematic discussion on performance and establishing incentive/disincentives plans.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the conceptualization of SCPMSs and to clarify how to ensure an effective SCPMS adoption: apart from relationship-specific attributes, SCPMS lifecycle phases are suggested to have a key role.

Are Solidarity Purchasing Groups a Social Innovation? A Study Inspired by Social Forces

The Social Forces theory was proposed by Beckert (2010) to study the interconnecting dynamic interrelations between institutions, networks and cognitive frames that underlie economic phenomena. In the context of this article, this theoretical perspective was applied to study Solidarity Purchasing Groups as a social innovation and to assess their capacity to create a new process of social inclusion for their suppliers. Despite being the most relevant alternative food networks in Italy, Solidarity Purchasing groups are only partially able to fulfil the promise of social innovation (by increasing the participation of beneficiaries and challenging pre-existing socio-economic dynamics) through the establishment of an alternative supply-chain alongside the one proposed by mass retailers. The results were obtained from an empirical investigation of 35 solidarity purchasing groups (2015/2016, nationally based), under the frame of the EU-funded CRESSI project.