Importance and challenges of Cold Chain logistics

Order size and m3: grocery vs. retail order

What differentiates an average grocery order from a typical retail order (clothes, books, etc.) is that the monetary value per cubic meter typical is much lower for groceries than for other consumer goods. Take for example, rolls of toilet paper – on high demand during the first few weeks of the pandemic! They require much more space than a book or t-shirt but are valued at a fraction of the cost. It comes as no surprise that in the traditional supermarket model, retailers were happy to have the consumer carry out the last mile delivery to their homes themselves.

Varied temperature-sensitivity

The average grocery order is a combination of products with a very long lasting ‘use before’ date and products that need to be consumed within a couple of days, and are temperature controlled. These range from frozen to chilled and around 14 degrees Celsius (e.g. bananas). Each of them is stored at a different temperature in separate sections of the shop and the final trip back to the home of the consumer would not take more than 15-20 mins.

In the online model, the same mixed bag of products travels from a fulfilment centre to the consumer’s doorstep. This could take anything between 6 to 12 hours, and considering each product has its own temperature requirement, brings higher expectations in terms of how the retailer delivers the order.

New developments for retailers

Several retailers have begun to use a temperature-controlled delivery box that can store goods for up to 24 hours in a refrigerated or even frozen state using cooling elements or ice packs. These boxes have made it easier for delivery personnel to handle and stack groceries into the delivery truck or van. On the other hand, oddly shaped products are difficult to fit in the box. And if the order is small, the retailer ends up bearing the hidden cost of transporting air.

Some retailers are managing order fulfilment out of the traditional supermarket. In most cases, this significantly reduces last mile travel times and therefore the worry regarding temperature constraints. This model, however, does not allow for the same depth of assortment that online orders generally do. In addition, there are challenges and costs involved in turning a supermarket into a fulfilment centre.

Not many retailers have explored refrigerated last mile delivery. This is yet another model that uses fully or partially temperature-controlled trucks or vans to fulfil orders in shopping crates. While this would increase upfront and running costs, it is a proven model. Whilst not many retailers are exploring this potential solution, it is commonly used for restaurant deliveries of fresh produce and could be useful for companies to explore.

The last mile – a competitive advantage

Today, retailers are having to make important decisions regarding their fulfilment model and last mile operations for the delivery of groceries.

Should picking be done in supermarkets, dedicated warehouses, large fulfilment centres, or a combination of these options? Will customers receive their purchases at their doorstep or by picking them up inside the store, in a store’s parking lot, or at a designated third-party location (such as a gas station)?

The economics of each model will vary depending on the retailer’s distribution footprint, price positioning, geographic concentration of sales, and competitive environment. One thing is for certain though – retailers who crack the last mile nut, create an unbroken cold chain, and find a way to maximise operational efficiency will get an edge in the grocery market.