The Differences in Retailing in Recent Decades - Literature review Example

The grocery segment possesses a stream-lined logistical system with investment into multiple distribution hubs and transport in order to provide with an increasing figure of super-stores. This logistical concept is now being confronted by the technological, environmental, and political transformations. The policy of the government to reduce environmental harm, thereby, revitalizing town centers puts forward great challenges for logistics. As put forth by Clarke, the early stress on retailers along with store location activities offered to feign both the wider anatomy of the product channel and the stand of consumption in shaping retail transformation.

By the middle of the twentieth century, consumers had an associatively restrained option of stores and stocks for their major periodical shopping spree. Most of the market-places were inclusive of a choice that encompassed the conventional supermarkets, convenience stores, and a deteriorating number of small neighborhood food shops. Following that, during the 1970s, however, an out-and-out bash took place in the new types of retail formats. 1980 initiated the ‘significantly differentiated’ formats which were competent for the dollars of customers.

This new choice was inclusive of hyper-marches, warehouse shops, super-combos, super-stores, and limited variety of discount stores. Apparently, in the early 1980s, strategic and tactical positioning became critical matters for survival in the retail industry (Arnold et al, 1983). Here, we will discuss the challenges as put forth by the transformations that have taken place since the 1980s.