Market-oriented aspects of retail internationalisation have received a lot of research attention since the 1990s. However, beyond these aspects lies also supply-chain oriented capabilities that are necessary for retailers to successfully internationalise into foreign sales markets. By using a perspective based on resource-based theories, this paper explores supply-chain oriented capabilities that facilitate retail internationalisation. The research is based on a multiple case study of three Swedish retailers. Through the perspective of research based theories, specifically capabilities, the empirical data is studied in a single-case as well as a cross-case analysis. Findings reveal three supply chain-oriented capability categories (leadership capability, integration capability and learning capability) of importance for retail internationalisation. Resources necessary for the capabilities are to be found internally at the retailer, but also externally at other firms. This research adds to the market-oriented knowledge on retail internationalisation by adding a supply-chain oriented perspective. Further, it provides an understanding of the early phases of retail internationalisation.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the processes of value creation and appropriation among companies in a reverse clothing supply chain. Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on an inductive case study approach at fashion retailers, charity organisations, commercial recyclers, and specialised sorting companies involved in take-back schemes for used clothes in the reverse clothing supply chain.

Findings – Value creation and appropriation processes are illustrated for different members of the reverse clothing supply chain. Results of different types of value and value co-creation explain the relatively high degree of collaboration among members in the “beginning” of the reverse supply chain. Here, collaboration outmanoeuvres the traditional value appropriation mechanism of price negotiation.

Research limitations/implications – This research does not cover all tiers in this global industry, and practices among different regions may hamper the generalisability of the findings presented. Practical implications – This research allows a comprehensive picture of the members in the reverse clothing supply chain and outlines some of the major processes involved, decisive for value creation, and appropriation.

Originality/value – The research draws upon the value concept and combines processes of value creation and appropriation in one, single empirical study. By doing that, the research disseminates the reverse clothing supply chain in a new way and facilitates improved understanding of the structure and rationales for members taking part in it. 

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review existing research on retail supply chain responsiveness, develop categories to be included in a retail-specific responsiveness framework, and identify future research areas within the scope of retail supply chain responsiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an inductive systematic literature review of 46 academic, peer-reviewed articles. Based around the two major review questions on retailers’ role in the creation of supply chain responsiveness and future research areas, an inductive, qualitative, content analysis was conducted. Further analysis was conducted by using the software NVivo 11.

Findings

Existing research are grouped into a framework of four categories that together span the existing research. The categories are labelled supply chain orchestration, market orientation, supply chain operations and supply management. Two to three subthemes in each category are presented. Thereafter, promising future research areas are outlined, covering methodological issues, theoretical underpinnings, inclusion of context variables and outcomes of retail supply chain responsiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The conducted systematic literature review has been limited to academic, peer-reviewed articles.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper constitute a promising initial step towards a retail-specific framework on retail supply chain responsiveness.

Originality/value

The paper questions the comprehensiveness of established models in responsiveness, and argues that existing “general” literature on supply chain responsiveness gives little guidance and structure to retailers’ specific role and involvement in supply chain responsiveness. In particular, the paper focusses on the retailers’ role for creation of supply chain responsiveness, which has not previously been addressed in research.

Retail purchasing groups consist of small, independent, specialised stores that join together and collaborate on purchasing and other areas. In comparison to large-scale corporate retail chains, often labelled mega-retailers, retail purchasing groups are based on collaborative external integration between a central unit and the independent, local dealers. The overall purpose of this research is to explore the specific characteristics that underscore a retail purchasing group. The paper has two research questions: (1) What are the strengths and weaknesses of a supply chain structure based on external integration?, and (2) In what areas is the purchasing groups’ ownership structure particularly advantageous in comparison to the mega-retailers’ vertically integrated organisations? This exploratory research is empirically grounded in a case study of two Swedish purchasing groups. The paper argues that under certain market conditions, a decentralised supply chain, which relies on collaborative external relationships, can provide a competitive alternative to a more traditional centralised structure.  The paper elaborate three areas where the structure is particularly advantageous: (1) service-based competition in an industry otherwise focused on cost leadership, (2) in-depth understanding of local conditions and presence, and (3) the ability to incorporate entrepreneurial strengths and innovations in the supply chain.

Logistik har de senaste åren blivit ett allt viktigare konkurrensmedel för många företag. Med logistiken som grund kan långsiktig lönsamhet och tillväxt skapas. Grundtanken med denna bok är att förklara logistikens roll utifrån ett företagsstrategiskt perspektiv. Därmed går boken utanför det som vanligtvis ses som logistikforskning och logistikteorier, och tar i stället sin utgångspunkt i strategiteori.

Bokens första del belyser logistikens strategiska betydelse utifrån tre strategiteoretiska perspektiv: marknadspositioneringsperspektivet, det resursbaserade perspektivet och det dynamiska perspektivet. Dessa perspektiv har dominerat strategiforskningen de senaste tre decennierna och kan ses som tre olika "glasögon" som bidrar med insikter till logistikområdet. Bokens andra del ägnas åt mer praktiska aspekter kring hur företaget ska agera när logistik är ett strategiskt konkurrensmedel. Här beskrivs en logistikbaserad affärsmodell samt företagsledningens roll i logistiken.