A cost-based tool for the comparison of different e-grocery supply chain strategies

E-commerce is always a more diffused sales channel around the whole world market. The grocery market has been interested in the expansion of this phenomenon, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, when electronic grocery (e-grocery) shopping increased considerably. Moreover, it has remained a diffused selling channel also later, in the non-emergency state. To satisfy this specific market demand, grocery chains are facing the need for a redesign with a new logistic perspective. A grocer can carry out online orders in several ways; it can process them directly in stores using internal staff to shop from the shelves during off-peak hours. Alternatively, some local stores can be closed to customers and dedicated to online orders (dark stores). Another strategy is to carry out online orders from a single distribution centre (e-hub), using stores to complete orders with very fresh products and from which to carry out deliveries. Finally, online orders can be wholly managed by multi e-hubs. Each solution has different logistics costs and performances, influenced by online demand.