MNB continues our newest feature: "The BIG IDEA Beat" Contest, in which the thought-leaders who make up the MNB community have the opportunity to share their perspectives on critical issues facing the industry and win a signed copy of Agentry Agenda: Selling Food in a Frictionless Marketplace, by Glen Terbeek.
Each week, we offer both a Premise and a Challenge to MNB users. The Premise will seek to state either a fact of life for the food industry as it currently exists, or a trend that seems to be developing as retailers and manufacturers seek a better way of conducting business.
Your Challenge will be to respond by identifying the best ideas and examples that typify where the industry ought to be heading.
Entries should be emailed to kc@mnb.grocerywebsite.com.
"The BIG IDEA Beat" contest will be featured each Monday, and repeated Tuesday and Wednesday…answers must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. Winners will be picked and featured on MNB by Friday. Some weeks there may be single winner…other weeks, there could be multiple winners. Selection of the winners will be solely at the discretion of Glen Terbeek and MNB Content Guy Kevin Coupe.
Premise:
Wal-Mart’s supply chain has been envied by the supermarket industry as being both efficient and effective; many in the industry say it's the key to their success. It was the motive for the ten-year ECR movement, in which the industry tried to emulate it. It includes a significant technology investment including Retail Link that shares complete sales and inventory visibility at store level with their suppliers. It operates on the policy of "net, net" costing to the store.
And now, as reported on MNB, it is rumored that Wal-Mart may offer wholesaling services to independent supermarket operators, leveraging this supply chain.
Challenge:
Tell us if you think independent supermarket retailers should use Wal-Mart’s wholesaling services? What are the pros and cons of doing so? What would be the impact on the shopper, the manufacturer and the retailer of such a decision? Consider this question from the shoppers’ and manufacturers’ view as well as the retailers'. And finally, if Wal-Mart decides to go into the business of supplying independent grocers, what should the current wholesaler class do in response?
Each week, we offer both a Premise and a Challenge to MNB users. The Premise will seek to state either a fact of life for the food industry as it currently exists, or a trend that seems to be developing as retailers and manufacturers seek a better way of conducting business.
Your Challenge will be to respond by identifying the best ideas and examples that typify where the industry ought to be heading.
Entries should be emailed to kc@mnb.grocerywebsite.com.
"The BIG IDEA Beat" contest will be featured each Monday, and repeated Tuesday and Wednesday…answers must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday. Winners will be picked and featured on MNB by Friday. Some weeks there may be single winner…other weeks, there could be multiple winners. Selection of the winners will be solely at the discretion of Glen Terbeek and MNB Content Guy Kevin Coupe.
Premise:
Wal-Mart’s supply chain has been envied by the supermarket industry as being both efficient and effective; many in the industry say it's the key to their success. It was the motive for the ten-year ECR movement, in which the industry tried to emulate it. It includes a significant technology investment including Retail Link that shares complete sales and inventory visibility at store level with their suppliers. It operates on the policy of "net, net" costing to the store.
And now, as reported on MNB, it is rumored that Wal-Mart may offer wholesaling services to independent supermarket operators, leveraging this supply chain.
Challenge:
Tell us if you think independent supermarket retailers should use Wal-Mart’s wholesaling services? What are the pros and cons of doing so? What would be the impact on the shopper, the manufacturer and the retailer of such a decision? Consider this question from the shoppers’ and manufacturers’ view as well as the retailers'. And finally, if Wal-Mart decides to go into the business of supplying independent grocers, what should the current wholesaler class do in response?
- KC's View:
