Study on sourcing strategies adopted by supermarkets for their different product

categories

K J SOMAIYA INSTITUTE OF
MANAGEMENT STUDIES AND RESEARCH

MASTER THESIS REPORT

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of

Post Graduate Diploma in Retail Management

SUBMITTED BY

Pranav Bhaskar

Roll No: 040

PGDM-RETAIL MANAGEMENT

Under the guidance of

Prof. Prema Basargekar

Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM

DECLARATION

I, Pranav Bhaskar, student of Post Graduate Diploma in Retail Management at K J Somaiya Institute of Management and Research, hereby declare that this project report
entitled “Study on sourcing strategies adopted by supermarkets for different product categories” is the project of genuine and authentic work undertaken by me during
the period from 25th Sept 2018 to 12th March 2019 and have not been submitted to any other University or Institute for the award of any degree/diploma etc.

__________

(Pranav Bhaskar)

Date:

Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM

CERTIFICATE FROM FACULTY GUIDE

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT PRANAV BHASKAR, A STUDENT OF THE POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN RETAIL MANAGEMENT (AT KJ SOMAIYA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT
STUDIES AND RESEARCH) HAS WORKED UNDER OUR GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION. THIS THESIS REPORT TITLE “STUDY ON SOURCING STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY
SUPERMARKET FOR DIFFERENT PRODUCT CATEGORIES” HAS THE REQUISITE STANDARD AND TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE HAS NO PART OF IT BEEN REPRODUCED
FROM ANY OTHER PROJECT, MONOGRAPH, REPORT OR BOOK.

FACULTY GUIDE

Prof. Prema Basargekar

KJ SIMSR

Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM

Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM
Acknowledgment

Through this master thesis report, I accept the opportunity to express and share my genuine appreciation and gratefulness to every one of the individuals who helped
me in topping off the Responses to the Questionnaire making my Master's Thesis a reality. First of all I'd like to thank my Mentor and Guide Prof. Prema Basargekar,
Professor of Economics, K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai for the prepping she conferred, profitable sources of info and fitting
recommendations to fill the hole which I passed up, which helped me all through my residency of drafting the Master's Thesis. I would also like to thank my other
faculty Mrs. Vilasini jadhav for providing continuous support and guidance throughout, for the successful completion of the projects. I have got all sort of support
from their side whenever required, making this Master’s Thesis a completely enriched learning experience. The learning would not have been completed without
valuable inputs from their expertise, knowledge, and experience.

Last but not the least; I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to my institute for giving me this learning opportunity.

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Contents
Chapter 1: Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 2: Concepts of Supermarket ..................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 3: Literature Review ................................................................................................................ 12
Chapter 4: Sourcing In Supermarket, a major stage in Supply Chain Management............................. 13
Research Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 20
Data Analysis ......................................................................................................................................... 24
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 27
Appendix ............................................................................................................................................... 28
References ............................................................................................................................................ 30

Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM

Chapter 1: Executive Summary

This Study of the Supermarket is entirely based on the determination of the various intermediates

involved in the process of sourcing the different products available in the Superstore. As a

Supermarket, it has a number of products and how it follows a different Supply Chain for acquiring

them. Another motive of the study is to determine the different modes of product sourcing.

OBJECTIVES:

1) To determine the Supply Chain Management followed by Supermarkets for their different

product categories.

2) To determine whether different methodologies are applied for the souring of the products?

3) To determine the role played by the intermediates in sourcing of the products.

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Chapter 2: Concepts of Supermarket

Defination of Supermarket: “A supermarket is a categorized self-service store offering a wide variety

of categories such as food and household merchandise”.

According to the American standards, it is larger in size, which can vary from 5,000 sq.ft to 40,000
sq.ft. it has a wider selection in terms of products offering, isle area, billing counters ,etc, than a
traditional grocery store or convenience store.

The supermarket majorly comprises of food categories such as Kirana food, packaged food, cold
storage meat products, baked goods, dairy products along with the refrigerator space comprised of
meat products and extra shelf space for packaged goods like staple foods, wafers, etc. It also has
categories like personal care, home care including toiletries, pharmacy products, etc. Generally, the
supermarket has food items as the destination category for the customers and some supermarkets
also have a wide range of non-food items including plastic products.

The supermarket consumes a huge floor space on a solitary dimension and is mostly situated close to
a residential location because it is very helpful to the target shoppers. Its crucial intrigue is the
accessibility and availability of a scenic choice of merchandise under one roof at generally lower costs
than traditional Kirana stores. Supermarkets invest monstrous costs for promoting and displaying of
their products in local newspaper to attract the target audience.There are a lot of Supermarkets like
easyday, Reliance fresh, ABRL’s more are frequently part of a big retail chain that claim and control
different stores situated in different towns, cities across the country. It is always the inclination
towards the volume by these big retail giants because they always believe in economies of scale.

Supermarkets offer items at lower costs by decreasing the margins. Certain items (regularly staples,
for example, milk, eggs, butter, bread, and sugar) are frequently sold as misfortune pioneers, that is,
with normal margin. To keep up a benefit, stores endeavor to compensate for the low edges with a
high generally speaking volume of offers, and with offers of higher-edge things. Customers put their
items into shopping baskets (trolleys) or crates (basket) and pay for the items at the payment counters
. At present, numerous supermarket chains are endeavoring to decrease labour costs further by
moving to self-service payment check-out machines, where four or five machines can be supervised
by a solitary assistant/worker.

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A bigger format than Supermarket combined with a lot of separate departments with more than
50,000 sq.ft joined with a retail establishment is known as a hypermarket. Different services that
hypermarket may have cafes,incorporate banks, bistros, crèches, video rental, pharmacy,etc.

History of the Supermarket:

In the beginning of retailing, all products must be gotten by the assistants from racks on one side of
a counter while the customers remained on the opposite side and used to pint out what all goods they
wanted. Likewise, many food items like rice,dal,sugar,etc did not use to come in the individually
wrapped in different size packages taken for granted in today’s era, staffs at stores used to measure
the precise amount demanded by the customers. This practice used to involve a lot of labours and
therefore it used to be quite expensive for the owners.

The idea of a supermarket was created and established by Clarence Saunders and the name given was
Piggly Wiggly stores. The first store was opened in Memphis, Tennessee in 1916 by. Mr. Saunders was
granted a license for franchising the Piggly Wiggly stores. The stores were a financial achievement and
Saunders started to offer establishments. A&P was another successful early supermarket’s chain in
the United States and Canada, having turned out to be common in North American urban communities
during the 1920s. The general pattern in retail from that point forward has been to stack racks around
evening time and let the clients get their very own products and convey them to the front-side of the
store to pay for them. In spite of the fact that there is a higher danger of shoplifting, the expenses of
proper safety efforts will be in a perfect world exceeded by the sales volume and decreased operating
work costs. As per the “Smithsonian Institution”, the primary genuine market in the United States was
opened by ex-Kroger worker Michael J. Cullen, on August 4, 1937, in a 6,000 square foot (560 m²)
previous carport in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

Most general stores are comparable in plan and design because of patterns in showcasing. Produce
will, in general, be close to the passageway of the store.Eggs, bread,butter,Milk, and other basic things
might be placed in the back of the store. This is deliberately done to guarantee the most extreme time
spent in the store, walking around different things and benefiting the supermarket from impulse
shopping. The front side of the supermarket is the place one may discover the purpose of discount
offers to drive the customers inside the store. Numerous retailers have enculcated self-checkout
macines in their stores trying to lessen the labour costs.

Various supermarket product categories are listed below:

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 Baby food products Electrical items like bulbs,etc

Bakery Feminine hygiene products

Books, magazines, newspapers, and supermarket Frozen cold storage products
tabloids

Car care products Fruits and vegetables

CDs, DVDs, and videos (including video rentals) Greeting cards

Confectionery items Housecleaning products

Cosmetics Luggage
Clothing and footwear Meat

Dairy products Nonalcoholic beverages, such as refreshments and

water
Pet foods Snacks

Diet foods Personal care and grooming products

Plastic prducts

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Indian Organized Retail Industry scenario:

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Chapter 3: LITERATURE REVIEW
Abstract: The relationship between suppliers and supermarket
Over something like 30 years, Supermarkets in developed and developing economies across the world
have procured an increasing share of basic supply of grocery markets, and in doing as such, have
increased their influence over suppliers– what nourishment is grown and how it is prepared and
bundled – with effects venturing profound into the lives and occupations of ranchers and laborers
around the world. So, Suppliers are equally crucial as the customers and all the suppliers are equally
equipped with the workers and laborers to make their products delivered in time.

At national dimension in numerous nations, an expansive offer of the staple market is regularly in the
hands of just a bunch of markets. One of the results of this fixation is a developing irregularity of
bartering power inside nourishment supply chains. The financial and social impacts on manufacturers
and producers are progressively perceived. Be that as it may, the outcomes of the intensity of grocery
stores over their providers additionally influence buyers, through effects on advancement, a decrease
of the decision and more expensive rates. These impacts are frequently ignored. So too are impacts
on the supportability of utilization and generation.

There are many threats of suppliers and the major threat these days are not the competitor suppliers
but the supermarkets’ owned private labels. These private labels have really a high margin that
compels the owners of the supermarkets to keep the product on the shelves. The local consumers are
majorly attracted by the discounts provided by these private labels.

This article consists of many fits of abuse which enhances the bargaining power of the supermarkets
that is generally reinforced by the fragmentation on the supplier side. Some of these buyer power
abuses are listing fees, slotting fees, de-listing or threat of de-listing, return of unsold products
/expired goods to suppliers, demanding retrospective payments, extra discounts and after sales
rebates, late payments, etc. These abuses have a long term effect on suppliers because these abuses
have certain costs and risk involved.

The major attraction that supermarkets have always conveyed to suppliers is volume, which always
gives the suppliers an assurance of pushing the hell lot of stocks in the market. In like manner, there
can't be any inquiry that the solicitations of stores have in a couple of respects compelled suppliers to
raise their redirection: the nature of their yield and the condition in which it accomplishes the end
customer. If the utilization by customers on sustenance gets extended, the idea of that utilization is
taken by markets. Neither the greatest brand owners nor is it reasonable to recommend that just
markets apply buyer control, themselves overall endeavors, probably, have buyer control, as total
different immense European acquiring clusters which follow up in light of a legitimate concern for
genuine fundamental supply retailers. Regardless, what makes markets specific in the movement of
buyer control is the power they in like manner practice as retailers.

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Chapter 4: Sourcing In Supermarket, a major stage in Supply Chain
Management

The backbone in operation of any supermarket is its supply chain network management.” Supply Chain
Network Management in the supermarket operation is the way toward planning, actualizing, and
controlling the activities of the production network with the reason to fulfill the customers’ necessities
as effectively as could be expected under the circumstances”. SCM spans all development and capacity
of raw-materials, work-in-process stock, and finished products from point of origin to point of
utilization and consumption. The term supply chain management was authored by advisor “Keith
Oliver, of technique counseling firm Booz Allen Hamilton in 1982”.

Inventory network Management includes the arranging and the executives of all exercises associated
with sourcing, acquirement, change, and coordination the board exercises. Vitally, it additionally
incorporates coordination and a joint effort with channel accomplices, which can be providers,
mediators, outsider specialist organizations, and clients. Fundamentally, Supply Chain Management
incorporates free market activity the executives inside and crosswise over organizations.

“Supply Chain Executive Management (SCEM) is thought of all conceivable happening occasions and
factors that can cause an interruption in an inventory network. With SCEM conceivable situations can
be made and arranged.”

Supermarket’s Supply Chain Network Management Problems:

* Distribution Strategy: Cross-docking, direct shipment, pull or push systems, and
centralized/decentralized Distribution.
* Distribution Network Configuration: Count of and Location of providers/suppliers, distribution
centers, godown/warehouses, customer demands.
* Information: A set of data Integrates the frameworks and procedures through the supply chain
network to share important information. Information may include demand signals,
estimates/forecast, stock and, transportation of the respective goods.
* Inventory Management: Quantity and area of inventory including raw materials, finished goods, and,
work-in-process goods.
Supply channel network execution is overseeing and planning the movement of materials data and
funds over the supply chain network. The flow in this network is bi-directional, which deals with both
logistics and reverse-logistics.

Exercises and Functions of Supply Chain Network Management in supermarket:-

Supply Chain Network is a cross-functional way to deal with the movement of raw materials into a
company and the movement of finished goods out of the company toward the end-buyer. As
organizations strive to concentrate on core competence skills and become progressively adaptable,
they have diminished their ownership of raw materials sources and conveyance channels. These

Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM

practices are progressively being taken care by different companies that are well versed with the
supply chain management skills and can carry out this type of operations in a better way and more
cost effective way. The idea has been to expand the number of organizations engaged in accepting
and fulfilling the clients’ request while decreasing the fundamental control of day to day coordination
activities. Many big retail giants have their tie-ups with the Supply Chain Network Management
companies which take care of all the day to day activites in terms of operation . The motivation behind
the supermarket’s supply chain network is to improve the trust among the production network and
cooperation with the staffs, along these lines improving stock speed and stock permeability.

Key Performance Indicators:

Strategic:
* Strategic system improvement includes the number of godowns, area, and size of inventory,
distribution centers and offices.
* Strategic organization with suppliers, merchants, and clients, can be made through the
correspondence channels for substantial data and operational enhancements, for example, cross
direct shipment, cross-docking, etc.
* Product plan coordination can be done with the aim that the new items and the existing items should
be ideally incorporated and updated time to time into the inventory network.
* Information Technology is the backbone in any supply chain network management because it helps
in smooth flow of production network tasks as well as all the tasks can be tracked with the help of IT.
* From where, when, and what should be purchased should be reflected in the system on a fixed time
basis.
* Align the Supply Chain Network Management system with the overall company’s strategy

Tactical:
* Purchase decision and contracts’ sourcing
* Decisions in production like contracting, ordering, scheduling, location, booking, and process
definition’s planning, etc.
* Decision in inventory control includes quality, quantity, the location of inventory.
* Transportation of stocks includes routes, frequency, and contracting.
* All tasks should be benchmarked against contenders and execution of best practices all through the
venture.

Operational:
* Planning/controlling of production and distribution on a daily basis incorporating all hubs in the
production network.
* Decision of Production scheduling should be taken for each manufacturing facility in the supply
chain network (step by step).

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* Planning and estimating the demand, which deals with organizing the interest figure everything
being equal and imparting the conjecture to all suppliers.
* Planning of sourcing includes current inventory and estimate the demand according to it , in
collaboration with all providers.
* Inbound operation deals with ithe transportation from suppliers and receiving the stock accordingly.
* Production tasks includes the optimization of utilization materials and stream of finished goods.
* Outbound tasks deal with the fufillment exercises of demands/orders and transportation of the
demands to the respective customers.
* Order promising generally accounts for all imperatives in the inventory supply chain network. It
includes all suppliers, fabricating Facilities,distribution centers, and other clients.
* Performance following everything being equal.

Integration of Supply Chain Network Business Process:

Effective Supply Chain Network Management in supermarket requires a change from managing
singular functions to coordinating activities into key supply chain network processs. An example
situation: the purchasing department places an order as necessities . The marketing department then,
responds to the customer’s request, communicates with a few distributors and suppliers, and
endeavors to fulfill the demand of the customer. Information that is shared between the supply chain
network stakeholders can be completely utilized through process integration only.

Store network business process mix involves synergistic work among buyers and suppliers as
mentioned in the literature review also, joint product development and improvement, basic
frameworks, and shared information.” As indicated by Lambert and Cooper working a coordinated
supply chain network requires ceaseless data streams, which thusly help to accomplish the best item
streams.” Nonetheless, in many organizations, the executives have achieved the conclusion that
optimizing the product flows can't be cultivated without implementing a processed way to deal with
the business. The key supply chain network processes expressed by Lambert are:

* Customer relationship management

* Demand management
* Customer service management
* Fulfillment of order management
* Manufacturing stream management
* Supplier relationship management
* Product advancement and commercialization
* Returns management

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One could recommend the critical key basic supply business forms consolidating these procedures
expressed by Lambert, for example,

1. Customer administration Management

2. Process of procurement
3. Product improvement and commercialization
4. Assembling stream the board/support
5. Distribution of Physical goods
6. Redistributing
7. Measurement of performance

Let’s explain all the terms that support the supermarket business run smoothly:-

a) Customer administration management

Customer administration provides the source of customers’ information. It additionally provides the
the customers’ real time data on promising dates and item availability through interfaces with the
organization's production and distribution activities.

b) Process of procurement

Vital plans are developed with the suppliers to support the assembling flow management procedure
and development of new items. In firms where operations broaden globally, sourcing ought to be
overseen on a global premise. The ideal result is a win-win relationship, where both the parties get
the advantage, and the design cycle’s time is reduced and the product improvement is acieved.
Electronic information exchange (EDI) and Internet linkages are developed in order to exchange
possible requirements more accurately and quickly.

c) Product improvement and commercialization

The customers and suppliers must be united into the item improvement process, in this manner to
lessen the time to showcase. As the product life cycles shorten, the appropriate items must be
created and successfully propelled in ever shorter time-schedule to stay aggressive in the
competitive market. As per “Lambert and Cooper (2000)”, directors of the product improvement and
commercialization process must:

1. Organize with customer relationship management to identify the customers necessities;

2. Respective materials and suppliers related to procurement are selected, and

3. Production and distribution technology in manufacturing stream is developed in orderto make

and coordinate into the best supply chain network stream for the product mix.

d) Manufacturing stream management

The manufacturing procedure is produced and supplies the respective products to the distribution
channels dependent on past conjectures. The market is changing dynamically so the manufacturing
process has be flexible to cope up with the dynamic market.

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e) Physical Distribution

The major concern of this process is to deliver the customer needs on the shelf of the supermarket
as soon as the buffer stock reaches .The customer is considered the final destination of a marketing
channel, so if the customer needs the product and doesn’t find on the shelves of the supermarket
then the customer retention will be at stake.

f) Outsourcing/Partnerships

This the best alternative for focusing on the crucial activities in the value chain and some sort of
supply chain network management is outsourced to the external company. This development has
been especially evident in the logistics operation where in the arrangement of transport,
warehousing, and stock control is progressively subcontracted to the specialist or logistics partners.

g) Performance Measurement

A long term relationship with the suppliers can make a well established supply chain network and
eventually it will enhance the customer relationship. The whole process will increase the
performance and the profitability of the organization.
According to the specialists internal measures are commonly gathered and analysed by the firm
including:

1. Cost

2. Quality

3. Productivity

4. Customer Service

5. Resource measurement,

Outer execution estimation is inspected through customer perception measures and "benchmarking
the best work on" and incorporates

1) Customer measurement of perception

2) Benchmarking the best practice.

Parts of Supply Chain Management are

1. Institutionalization
2. Delay
3. Customization

The development of organized sector retail chain stores and rise in a competitive rivalry is probably
going to be an impetus for realizing the genuinely necessary change in the agribusiness related
production network. The substantial players in the retail area and quick moving buyer merchandise
are likewise impacting the legislature to change the guidelines, which up to this point had contracted
the operational condition.

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There are three likely advantages for the agriculture segment:

• Firstly, rather than utilizing the present chain, which results in huge markups because of the
numerous number of delegates, the ranchers are starting to execute legitimately with the
substantial corporates, decreasing wasteful aspects.

• Secondly, a portion of the substantial retail players will begin contract fabricating with ranchers
giving them the correct quality sources of info (composts and seeds), capital help and right flags in
the blend of yield they have to deliver which can procure them most extreme returns.

• Thirdly, the increment in direct sourcing by huge players will likewise urge the private area to put
resources into the coordinations and foundation expected to improve the profitability and
effectiveness of the inventory network.

Let’s compare the older scenario of agriculture supply chain with the newer scenario:-

Older Agricultural Supply Chain

New Agricultural Supply Chain

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Pranav Bhaskar Roll no. 40 PGDM-RM
Research Methodology

1. Supply Chain Management knowledge was gained

The first step was to read on the websites and do research about Supply Chain Management. Following
this not only gave me in-depth knowledge about the supply chain netwrok process but this secondary
research was also further used in creating the questionnaire.

2. Survey Instruments

A well-developed questionnaire was used as the main instruments for the survey. The
questionnaire was created in a step by step process as described below:

Research targets are being changed into information

Step 1 targets.

The Appropriate information gathering techniques have

Step 2 been determined.

The data required by each target/objective is being

Step 3 determined.

Scale Measurement/ Specific Questions layout is created.

Step 4

Scale Measurements/ Question is being checked thoroughly.

Step 5

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 Research targets are being changed into information
Step 6 targets.

The count of information needed is being resolved.

Step 7

The questionnaire and layout is being checked and

Step 8 evaluated.

the questionnaire layout was revised if needed.

Step 9

The Questionnaire format is ready

Step10
10

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Research Design:

Market research is generally of two types, that are mentioned below:

1. Secondary Research

Information pertaining to various topics was collected from numerous websites and catalogs to
understand the working and the Supply Chain Management followed by the supermarkets.

2. Primary Research

A questionnaire was created for the Supermarkets’ managers and following areas were covered:

 Supply Chain Management followed.

 The role played by the intermediates.
 Products offered at Supermarkets.
The research was conducted in the Ghatkopar east area, maximum local Supermarkets, as well as
prominent player’s supermarkets, were approached. The core target area is depicted in the figure
given below:

Limitations

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There were a lot of difficulties faced during the beginning part of the project, which was however
successfully overcame by me. Some of the obstacles are mentioned below:-

1. It was really difficult to break the ice with the store managers initially.
2. Convincing the store managers for an interviewing process and making them fill out the
questionnaire was really a daunting task
3. Data mining and compilation for analysis were a little difficult because of non-availability of correct
information.

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Data Analysis:

Preferred Supply Chain hierarchy

Manufacturer
to Retailer 40%

Manufacturer
to Wholesaler to
Retailer 40%

Manufacturer
to Wholesaler to
Jobber to Retailer 20%

Perfection in current Supply Chain

Perfect 60%

Imperfect 40%

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Priority given for ordering different products

Baby food
and products 5%

Bakery 10%

Cosmetics 2%

Dairy products 5%

hygiene products 12%

Frozen cold storage foods 15%

Fruits and vegetables 40%

Homecare products 10%

Pet foods and products 1%

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Core competencies

Supply Chain 20%

Product Offerings 40%

Discounts 20%

Service 40%

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Conclusion

 Supermarkets are following the conventional Supply Chain hierarchy of Manufacturer to

Wholesaler & then Retailer but there has been a change noticed recently where the supply of
fruits, vegetables, rice & pulses is happening directly from the manufacturer that is the farmer to
the retailer that is the supermarket store.

 Supermarkets are generally finding the conventional Supply Chain hierarchy perfect but again a
change of trend is felt in which a few prominent players are experimenting with other formats
also.

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 Supermarkets give priority to products the life-cycle of which is low, for e.g. fruits & vegetables.
Products with high life-cycle but with higher purchasing are next in the list.

 Supermarkets are cashing in product offerings & services as their core competency but slowly &
gradually Supply Chain & discounts on MRP (maximum retail price) are getting empties by the
supermarkets.

Appendix

Questionnaire

We are conducting a survey about the sourcing strategy being followed by supermarkets for their

different products. We would be obliged if you provides answers to the following questions in the

manner as indicated.

Personal Details

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Name: ________________________

Contact No.: ______________________

Q1) What is the Supply Chain hierarchy followed by your store?

 Manufacturer ------------------------------------------------------------------- Retailer

 Manufacturer ----------------- Wholesaler ----------------------------------- Retailer
 Manufacturer ----------------- Wholesaler------------- Jobber ------------- Retailer

Q2) Is the current Supply Chain strategy perfect?

 Yes
 No

Q3) If No, which are the other alternatives under consideration?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q4) Products offered by your store?

 Baby food and products

 Bakery
 Cosmetics
 Fruits and vegetables
 Dairy products
 hygiene products
 Frozen cold storage foods
 Home care products
 Pet foods products

Q5) Is Supply Chain your core competency?

 Yes
 No

Q6) If No, what is your core competency?

----------------------------------------------------

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References

Research papers-

www.researchgate.com

google scholars

Websites used for secondary research-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarket

http://www.tata.com/trent/articles/20030305_spurring_super_shopping.htm#top

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management

http://www.oim.edu.in

http://www.businessworld.in/Nov1306/indepth01.asp

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http://www.businessworld.in/issue/press_rel129.asp

Analysis done on Ms Excel

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