Introduction
Background to the Research
The United Kingdom’s supermarket industry has primarily been described as a contestable oligopoly. It is an industry that is dominated by a few players, such as Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, and Asda, who compete fiercely to dominate the market (Jabbour et al., 2021). These retailers are not only keen on acquiring and protecting their market share but also hindering other retailers from entering this market. These four major retailers have dominated the country’s supermarket industry for decades.
Chang and Chen (2020) argue that the dominant supermarkets in the United Kingdom have maintained their market share, making it difficult for major foreign retailers to enter the market. For instance, Walmart had to acquire ASDA to successfully enter the market because the dynamics of the country’s supermarket industry are complex. A new trend of discount stores is also emerging in this market, making the level of competition even stiffer. Lidl and Aldi are examples of emerging discount stores that have succeeded in this highly competitive market. For a firm to achieve sustainable growth in the UK retail industry, it must consider various competitive strategies.
Effective supply chain management is one of the best strategies a supermarket can use to achieve a competitive edge. Helo and Hao (2019) explain that one of the most challenging tasks in managing a supermarket is ensuring that customers have a wide variety of products when needed. The products must be in good condition to sell to clients. It means that when handling perishable products such as foodstuff, the management of the retail store must ensure that fresh produce is sourced and made available to customers in the right quantities.
If these products are delivered in excess quantities, those that are not consumed by the customers will go to waste. On the other hand, if the demand exceeds the supply, loyal customers will be pushed to visit other shops to get what they need. This means that there is always a delicate balance, and the firm must precisely predict the demand for these products on a daily basis and ensure that they are delivered in the right quantities and at the right time.
Supply chain management is also directly linked to the cost of operation. Remko (2020) explains that supermarkets cannot afford to run large warehouses to store excess inventory. When a firm is forced to store excess products that cannot be placed on display, then it will have to incur additional warehousing costs. It will have to pay for an additional warehouse space, hire additional employees, and pay additional electric bills.
As such, the just-in-time (JIT) inventory system has gained massive popularity in this industry. In this strategy, a firm only stocks enough products that customers will purchase at a specific time. It involves accurately predicting the demand for the products and having a supply plan with the manufacturers or suppliers to deliver the correct quantity of products periodically to ensure no shortage of or excess products in the store. Managing supply chain costs directly influences a firm’s gross profit.
Organizational Background
The study will be based on Tesco Plc, which is the leading supermarket in the United Kingdom. According to Massey (2022), Tesco controls 28.4% of the UK grocery market in the country as of January 2022. Founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen, Tesco began its operations selling war-surplus groceries at Well Street Market in East London. It experienced rapid growth, and in 1947, it went public on the London Stock Exchange (Smith, 2022). Using acquisition and takeovers, it was able to expand its market share after the Second World War rapidly.
The company expanded its operations to other European markets such as France, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. The firm has stores in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Asia. In North America, it successfully entered the United States market. As of 2022, the company was operating in 4,673 locations around the world, employing 354,744 people and with a revenue of £61.344 billion. With John Allan as its chairman and Ken Murphy as its chief executive officer, Tesco currently has supermarkets, hypermarkets, superstores, and convenience shops in major cities around the world. It also operates an online store to boost its sales.
Significance of the Problem
The problem that this study seeks to address is poor supply chain management and its harmful influence on the gross profits of a firm. Wieland and Durach (2021) contend that a supermarket’s ability to succeed in the current competitive business environment partly depends on its supply management. A firm should ensure its customers have the products they need at the right time and in quantity. Failure to do so may either lead to customers visiting other vendors or having excess stock that will be costly to store.
Wieland (2021) notes that one of the reasons why the expenses of a supermarket may be high is because of warehousing costs. Supplies should be delivered to the firm in quantities that require minimal restocking. As such, there is a need to have a system where the supermarket receives supplies periodically. It requires an effective supply chain system backed by a strong communication system. The suppliers should be informed about the consumption of products and when it is appropriate to replenish the stock. This study will explain how such goals can be realized in this industry.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this study is to critically scrutinize how effective supply management influences the gross profit in the United Kingdom supermarket industry. The goal is to explain how a supermarket can enhance its profitability by improving its supply chain. As Ageron, Bentahar, and Gunasekaran (2020) observe, an efficient supply chain begins with finding the right supplier, negotiating the right place, having an effective logistics system, and maintaining the quality of the products to meet customers’ needs in the best way possible.
The study will identify ways a firm can enhance its supply chain. Tesco was selected as the supermarket on which the case study will be based because of its position as the market leader in the market. Assessing its strategies in this market can help explain why it has remained the dominant player in this industry.
Statement of the Problem
Supply chain management is one of the critical aspects of managing a business that should always be prioritized. Studies have shown a direct relationship between the supply chain and the profitability of a business. A firm that employs a lean and effective supply chain will likely attract and retain a pool of loyal customers. In the retail market, there is always the need to ensure that the right quantity of products are made available on the shelves periodically to ensure that customers always have what they need. This should be done in a way that does not force the retailer to stock excess inventory. Effective supply chain management helps a firm to achieve this goal.
Aim and Objectives
In a research project, it is often advisable to develop the aim and objectives the researcher seeks to achieve by the end of the study. The aim of this project is to critically analyze the impact of effective supply management on the gross profit of companies in the UK supermarket sector. The following are the specific objectives that the researcher seeks to achieve:
- To determine how supply management changes the overall cost of delivering goods to customers;
- To define how supply management affects the profitability of a firm;
- To determine how supermarkets in the UK can employ effective supply management to gain a competitive edge over rivals;
- To determine forces that influence the local supermarkets’ effective supply management.
Research Questions
Setting clear research questions helps in defining the nature of data that should be collected from various sources. The following are the specific research questions that should be answered using secondary data sources.
- How can supply management affect the general cost of goods delivery to customers?
- How can supply management relate to the profitability of a firm?
- How can UK supermarkets apply effective supply management to compete over rivals?
- Which parties can affect effective supply management in regional supermarkets?
Dissertation Structure
This dissertation has five chapters, each addressing various aspects of the study. The first chapter provides a background of the study, organizational background, significance of the problem, statement of purpose and problem, aim and objectives, and research questions. Chapter 2 reviews the literature to help understand what other scholars have published regarding this topic. Chapter 3 provides a general discussion of the data collection and processing methods. In Chapter 4, the researcher delivers findings assembled from secondary data sources. The final chapter presents a conclusion and outlines recommendations based on the findings.
Literature Review
Introduction
The previous chapter provided background information and the study objectives. In this chapter, the priority is to review the pertinent literature that other scholars have published over the recent past. Mollenkopf, Ozanne, and Stolze (2021) explain that the concept of supply chain management has been attracting the attention of scholars for decades. There is a need for firms to continuously cut the cost of operations to enhance profitability, and one of the best ways of doing so is to enhance efficiency in the supply chain.
This chapter will assess various strategies that different authors have proposed to achieve efficiency. Sarkis (2021) advises that when conducting research, reviewing what other scholars have written on the topic is necessary. Doing so not only provides background information and insights into the field but also eliminates cases of reproducing what other scholars have found in that field. It enables a researcher to identify knowledge gaps or contradictions in the existing body of knowledge that would need to be addressed. This chapter also discusses relevant theories that can help explain specific concepts further.
Description and Analysis of the UK Supermarket Industry
The United Kingdom’s supermarket industry is one of the most attractive ones in Europe because of the country’s large population and high purchasing power. Lynch (2021) explains that as the country’s population continues to grow, the market size has also registered a considerable expansion. Figure 2.1 below shows the supermarket landscape in the country, identifying some of the top players in this industry.
Tesco is the market leader in this industry, accounting for about 26.4% of the market share by 2019. Sainsbury’s is in the second position, accounting for 14.3% of the market share, while Asda and Morrisons come in third and fourth with a market share of 13.4% and 9.5% respectively. Some discounted shops are also making a successful penetration into this market. German discounters Lidl and Aldi have a 6.6% and 9.5% market share, respectively (Constant, 2021). This is an indication that the UK supermarket industry is conducive to foreign companies as long as they understand what they need to do in the market. The other players include the Cooperative, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, and Iceland.
Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
When assessing the United Kingdom’s market, it is necessary to use Porter’s five forces model to understand various factors that a firm in this industry must manage. One of the first factors that have to be considered when assessing this market is rivalry among the existing competitors, as shown in Figure 2.2 below. The competition in the country’s supermarket industry is stiff.
Constant (2021) explains that the dominant players in this industry, such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, have been using various strategies to expand and protect their market share. They have been using their financial power and strong brands to ensure that they dominate the market. The stiff market competition means that any action taken by one firm to enhance its competitiveness is likely to attract the attention of the other players (Fatorachian & Kazemi, 2021). If one supermarket decides to lower the price of its products to attract more customers, the other players are likely to do the same to protect their market share. In such a market, the profit margin is relatively small, meaning a firm has to rely on economies of scale.
The threat of new entrants is often another primary concern that a company has to be ready to manage in the market. The ease with which firms can emerge in the market depends on government policies, capital and expertise restrictions, the level of competition in the market, and political stability in the country, among others (Hobbs, 2021). The United Kingdom has one of the largest populations in Europe, and the purchasing power of the residents is equally high. The country has enjoyed decades of political stability since the end of the Second World War (Thaichon & Quach, 2022). The government has also enacted laws that make it easy for both local and foreign firms to enter various industries to enhance competitiveness and improve service delivery to customers.
The only barrier to market entry in this country is the stiff competition. Lidl and Aldi understood this barrier and developed a unique way of overcoming it. They successfully entered this market, and together, they control over 15% of the country’s market share. Their success in this industry, despite the stiff competition, demonstrates that there is a threat of new entrants in this market.
Emerging technologies have worsened the threat of new entrants entering this market. The United Kingdom has one of the most robust online marketplaces in the world (Craighead, Ketchen, and Darby, 2020). This trend presents a new and unique challenge to the players. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores that were capital intensive, establishing an online store is relatively easy. A new firm can quickly start operations in this market with little investment (Cole, Stevenson, and Aitken, 2019). They can start operations as long as they have vans and motorcycles to make deliveries and a small warehouse to process orders. This is a new challenge that the players in this industry will need to find ways to address.
The bargaining power of buyers is another factor that a firm has to be ready to manage. According to Ghadge et al. (2020), the bargaining power of customers is often defined by the number of sellers offering a specific product. When consumers are presented with numerous competing choices, they are likely to become choosy and demanding. They will be willing to pay less for a high-quality product delivered in high quantities.
As explained above, firms in the UK supermarket industry experience stiff competition, which is expected to worsen as other firms emerge (Frederico et al., 2020). This means that consumers are presented with numerous options when purchasing a product. It gives them the bargaining power whenever they need to purchase an item. However, it is necessary to note that this power can be limited if these retailers choose to work as a unit, set industry standards, and agree on specific pricing for their products.
The bargaining power of the suppliers is another factor to consider during the market assessment. Butt (2021) explains that when firms in an industry have to rely on a single supplier or a few powerful suppliers who control important products, then the bargaining power of the suppliers will be high. Most of the products in the supermarket industry come from numerous suppliers. It means that the bargaining power of these suppliers is significantly low. Barman, Das, and De (2021) state that the bargaining power of the suppliers in this industry is so low that they often deliver their products and wait for the payment after they are sold. The low bargaining power of the suppliers means that firms such as Tesco can negotiate favorable terms when sourcing products.
The last factor to be considered in this model is the threat of substitute services. Modgil, Singh, and Hannibal (2022) argue that when the online marketplace first emerged, it was considered a substitute for the traditional supermarket industry. However, this perception has changed over time as the traditional players in the industry, such as Tesco, moved with speed to establish their online shop fronts. It has become evident that online retailing is just an extension of traditional retailing. Technology has only introduced an additional mode of supplying these products to customers (Nunes, Causer, and Ciolkosz, 2020). The only potent threat of substitute service is the existence of small shops strategically located in residential areas. These shops have existed longer than the supermarkets, which means that the threat they pose to this industry is negligible.
Contestable Market Theory
The supermarket industry in the United Kingdom can further be described and analyzed using contestable market theory. This theory holds that firms with few competitors exhibit competitive behavior if the market in which they operate has weak entry barriers (Guan et al., 2020). Although they may want to operate as oligopolies, the fact that new firms can quickly enter the market forces them to behave as if they are operating in a perfectly competitive market. A market is considered contestable if it has no entry and exit barriers and no sunk costs, and both the new and incumbent firms have equal access to technology (Attaran, 2020). The United Kingdom supermarket industry exhibits these characteristics.
It is also important to note that the big five players control over 75% of the market, which means they may be tempted to operate as oligopolies. However, this theory explains why these firms lack the luxury of operating as oligopolies and are forced to operate as firms in a perfectly competitive market. As shown in Figure 2.3 below, a firm in the monopoly or oligopoly market would want to enjoy supernormal profits, which means that it would set a high price, as shown in P1.
However, this theory notes that when entry barriers are eliminated, as always in a contestable market, a firm will be forced to drop the price to P1 and enjoy normal profits. In such a case, the focus will be on increasing sales volume to ensure that the firm enjoys economies of scale. Having efficient supply management will become a way of gaining a competitive edge and enhancing the profitability of the firm.
Retail Supply Chain
The supply chain is one of the most critical activities in the retail industry. Unlike manufacturers that have to acquire raw materials and process them into finished products, firms in the supermarket industry only need to deliver the product to final consumers as retailers. Ketchen and Craighead (2020) argue that procurement is the single most important thing that a retailer needs to do right to cut costs, enhance profitability, and maintain a pool of loyal customers. This is so because, on the one hand, customers expect to find all the products that they need from the supermarket of the right quality and quantity at all times. This means that there has to be a continuous supply of fresh farm produce and all other products that customers need.
On the other hand, these retailers are under pressure to cut warehousing costs as much as possible. As such, they have to stock just enough produce to meet the existing needs of consumers within a given period. It means that once these products are delivered, most of them should go directly to the shelves, with only a small amount remaining in the store to replenish the stock once they are purchased.
In such an environment, the procurement team must work closely with the sales unit and the logistics unit to coordinate activities in the supply chain. Sales per day have to be accurately predicted with a minimal margin of error. The entire team will then be required to ensure that these products flow regularly to the shelves and are replenished as clients continue with their purchases.
Figure 2.4 below shows internal supply chain activities within a supermarket. On the extreme left are the suppliers that make various products available to the firm. The suppliers rely on information from the supermarket’s procurement department to know what they need to deliver and the specific quantities necessary (Marbun et al., 2020). The firm will then purchase these products based on the arrangement with the supplier. The products will be moved to the supermarket’s storage, although in a lean environment, most of them should be moved directly to the shelves. For a large retailer such as Tesco, these products will have to be distributed to different outlets around the country. Customers expect to find these products in a convenient way, most preferably in the residential areas or strategic locations that they use when going to and coming from work.
Effective supply chain management involves undertaking various activities in the right way. Min, Zacharia, and Smith (2019) explain that it all starts with effective communication and coordination of activities. The sales team needs to have accurate data on stock that would be sold on a daily basis. The sales department should break down the stock based on factors such as perishability, fast-moving versus slow-moving goods, and their cost, among other factors.
The information should then be passed over to the procurement department. It is the responsibility of the procurement department to have a detailed plan on how these products will be made available at the various outlets in the company. Figure 2.5 shows the various critical activities involved in the supply chain management.
Vertical Integrated Partnership
Vertically integrated partnerships are one of the methods in supply chain management that can lower costs and improve a firm’s gross profit. Calatayud, Mangan, and Christopher (2019) define vertically integrated partnership as a collaboration among different firms in the supply chain. The goal of the firms involved is to achieve a common goal of maximizing profits. Tesco can form a vertically integrated partnership with a major supplier such as Samsung. In this agreement, Tesco will agree to prioritize Samsung brands over its rivals in the electronic industry. Its products would be strategically placed on specific shelves and locations within the supermarket.
In return, Samsung will agree to share a percentage of its profits with Tesco for the preferential treatment that it has been given. Alternatively, Samsung would agree to discount its products to improve Tesco’s profitability. Dohale et al. (2023) warn that this strategy only works when the partner is a popular brand in the market. It means that for Tesco, Samsung can be a good vertical partner in the market. However, a brand name such as Oppo or iTel Mobile may not be ideal because they have yet to achieve acceptance in the UK market. When Tesco limits the choice of its customers to such little-known brands, customers may consider purchasing products that they need from other retailers.
Vertical integration can also be achieved when the supermarket buys or partners with a specific producer. For instance, Tesco may decide to purchase a bakery to enable it to produce fresh bread, cakes, and related products. The strategy will increase the firm’s profitability and ensure that it has access to products that it needs at the right time and in the right quantity. The goal of this strategy is to enhance efficiency in product delivery and lower overall costs.
Procurement
Procurement is a critical activity in supply chain management. It is the process of obtaining goods that a firm needs to facilitate its operations. Garay-Rondero et al. (2020) explain that in many cases, supermarkets receive offers from suppliers to deliver a wide range of products that they need to facilitate their normal operations. However, it is sometimes necessary for the firm to procure specific products to lower costs by eliminating the middlemen within the supply chain. They have to go directly to the supplier, make an agreement, and find ways through which these products would reach the premises of the company (Kamble, Gunasekaran, and Gawankar, 2020).
The procurement unit would be required to negotiate a favorable contract that would enable the supermarket to spend as little as possible to obtain the inventory needed at the various outlets. Besides pricing and efficiency in the delivery of the products, quality should not be compromised. Customers would avoid a retail store that is associated with low-quality products.
Inventory Control
Inventory control is another critical aspect of supply chain management. According to Koberg and Longoni (2019), inventory control involves ensuring that the right amount of inventory is always available in the firm at all times. It remains the most challenging task in the procurement process in a supermarket. It requires an accurate prediction of the demand for specific products on a daily basis.
The challenge comes when some of the supplies cannot be obtained on a daily or weekly basis. It will force the firm to make a prediction for the monthly demand for the product. If there is an unexpected surge in the demand for the product, the shelves may remain empty for some time until the stock is replenished, an eventuality that is undesirable because customers will be forced to visit other stores.
On the other hand, when the demand is lower than what had been predicted, the company will be forced to incur an additional cost of warehousing that it had not planned for in its budget. There is also the need to manage the stock of fresh produce. They include fresh vegetables and fruits, fresh milk and dairy products, bread, and other perishable food items. The procurement should know when to deliver these products and the quantity needed. Cost inflation and customer dissatisfaction are known to arise when there is poor inventory control at the firm.
Logistics
Once the needed materials are procured, logistical activities should be as efficient as possible. As Smith (2022) notes, logistics involves efficient planning and execution of transport and storage activities. Once products have been purchased from the manufacturer or supplier, they should be safely transported to the supermarket premises. They should then be taken to the stores for safekeeping or to the shelves where customers will make their purchases.
There are cases where the supermarket offers to deliver a product to the customer’s premises once the purchase has been made. Such after-sale services should be done efficiently in a way that cuts the cost for the firm and meets the expectations of the client (Lim et al., 2021). When handling perishable products or delicate goods such as television sets, there is a need to ensure that specialized tools are used to eliminate cases of damage or destruction of goods in transit, at the store, or when being taken to the shelves.
Product Lifecycle Management
It is important to note that every product has a life cycle that needs to be managed carefully. As shown in Figure 2.6 below, the first stage is when a product is introduced to the market. It is barely known, and as such, there are low sales, high costs needed for promotion, possible financial losses, and limited competition. The firm will need to spend a significant amount of resources on promotion.
The second phase is growth, where the firm registers increasing sales, a rise in profitability, a drop in the unit cost of the product, an increasing number of customers, and a possible increase in competition. The firm will be required to maintain high levels of promotion (Chen, 2022). The fourth stage is maturity, where sales peak, cost per product is at its lowest, profits are high, sales are high, and competition stabilizes. It is the most desirable stage where a firm enjoys maximum profits from the product. The last stage is the decline, in which sales and profitability decrease. At this stage, the procurement department should consider finding an alternative product.
Preferential Pricing and Lead-Times
Preferential pricing and lead time are also essential considerations that have to be made. The procurement unit must ensure that it gets the best pricing for the products purchased to ensure the firm makes adequate profits (Mavrikakis et al., 2021). It may be forced to choose one supplier over the other based on the pricing that is offered. There is also the issue of lead time, which is critical in the supermarket industry. It has been reiterated that customers want to get the products that they need every time they visit the supermarket. The shorter the lead time, the higher the chances that products will be delivered as soon as the purchase is made. Taking into account the lead time, the procurement team should make their orders on time to avoid shortage.
Demand Management
Demand management is the last factor identified in Figure 5 above, though it is not the least. A supermarket is expected to manage demand by accurately predicting the amount of products that customers are likely to purchase within a given period and ensuring that the needed products are made available (Lynch, 2021). In some cases, the supermarket may promote the demand for a certain product while suppressing the demand for a competing product because of various reasons. This can be done by strategic positioning of specific products, use of discounts, or offering after-sale services.
Conclusion
The review of the literature proves that the impact of effective supply chain management on gross profit is direct when speaking about the United Kingdom’s supermarket industry. The existing studies show that one of the best ways through which a firm can enhance its profitability is to lower its cost of delivering products to customers. Effective supply management is one of the best ways to reduce the operation cost. It involves sourcing the best products at the lowest price possible and using efficient means to make these products available to customers. It requires effective communication and coordination among those involved in the supply chain to ensure that everything is done at the right time to meet the needs of customers while at the same time reducing the need to warehouse a large proportion of stock.
Research Methodology
Introduction
The previous chapter focused on reviewing relevant literature related to the topic under investigation. In this chapter, the researcher explains the methods used to collect and process data. The chapter discusses the research philosophy, approach, strategy, and design. Also described in this chapter are data collection methods, reliability, validity, ethical concerns, and limitations of the study.
Research Philosophy
Research philosophy is one of the first factors to be defined when conducting research. As shown in Figure 3.1 below, a researcher can use positivism, realism, interpretivism, or pragmatism, depending on the aim and objectives of the study. The selected research philosophy should support the assumptions of the study. In this project, the researcher considered pragmatism the most appropriate research philosophy. It holds the view that there are numerous ways of interpreting the world and that no single approach can be considered universally acceptable and appropriate (Bougie & Sekaran, 2020). As such, it maintains that a concept is considered acceptable only if it supports action. It allows a researcher to use both qualitative and quantitative methods to conduct a study and gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue under investigation.
Research Approach
When the appropriate philosophy has been selected, the next step is to determine the appropriate research approach for the study. Deplano and Tsagourias (2021) explain that a researcher can use deductive or inductive approaches. In this study, the researcher considered inductive research to be the most appropriate reasoning approach. As shown in Figure 3.2 below, it involves making an observation or conducting a test, developing a pattern, and then developing a theory or new knowledge. It does not limit a researcher to using a specific theory or developing specific hypotheses that have to be confirmed or rejected.
Research Strategy
When the research approach is identified, the next step is to determine the relevant research strategy that needs to be used. Research onion shown in Figure 3.1 above indicates that one can use survey, action research, grounded theory, ethnography, archival research, or case study, depending on the nature of the research. In this project, a case study was considered the most desirable strategy.
The study was narrowed down to Tesco, which is the market leader in the United Kingdom’s supermarket industry. Symbaluk (2019) defines a case study as an in-depth and multifaceted investigation of real-life issues within an organization. In this case, the focus was to thoroughly investigate the effect of effective supply management regarding the gross profit in the UK supermarket industry.
Research Design
When critically examining the implications of effective supply management from the gross profit in the British supermarket industry, the most appropriate research design is quantitative research. The quantitative method makes it possible to use statistics to explain the relationship between various variables in the study. In this case, effective supply management was the independent variable. It includes all the strategies and steps that an organization can use to optimize its supply chain management.
On the other hand, the dependent variable was the gross profit in the UK supermarket industry. The analysis involved determining how the independent variables influence the dependent variables. Findings from the statistical analysis were presented in the form of charts and graphs.
Data Collection Methods
The researcher relied on secondary data to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. Secondary data was obtained from journal articles, books, and reliable online sources. It involved a case study of Tesco, one of the leading supermarkets in the United Kingdom. The time available for this study meant that data could only be collected from secondary sources.
The researcher had to rely on recently published journal articles to understand the current supply chain management strategies that this company is using, and how it affects the firm’s overall performance. Recently published books also formed a critical form of data for the study, as Jacobsen (2021) advises. Recently published newspaper reports about the UK supermarket industry and the operations of Tesco, in particular, also provided essential information needed in this study.
Selecting Relevant Secondary Data Sources
The researcher decided to rely primarily on secondary data for this study. As such, it was essential to ensure that these sources were carefully selected to meet specific criteria. One of the inclusion criteria was that the sources must have been published within the last five years. More recent publications were prioritized to help understand the current state of the issue being investigated, as Eden, Nielsen, and Verbeke (2019) note. The study also prioritized articles involving empirical studies to help determine the relationship between the variables. A few newspaper reports and reliable websites were also included to provide further insight into the supply management strategies that local supermarkets in the country use to enhance their profitability and overcome stiff competition in the market.
Reliability and Validity
The researcher understands that policy-makers and other scholars can use the information presented in this document for various reasons. As such, issues about reliability and validity had to be prioritized. Reliability refers to the accuracy and trustworthiness of results presented in a given study (Ghauri, Grønhaug and Strange, 2020). The researcher ensured reliability in this study by collecting data from various sources.
Many secondary sources were used to support the study’s findings. This meant that the report encompassed many studies instead of being narrowly focused. There was also the need to ensure the validity of the survey (Eden, Nielsen, and Verbeke, 2019). The researcher set specific inclusion criteria to ensure that sources met specific qualifications before selecting them for the study. The researcher also tested the instrument for data collection to ensure that it could collect the needed information.
Ethics
A researcher is expected to consider ethical concerns when conducting a study. Allibang (2020) explains that one of the ethical issues that one should address is the need to protect the identity of participants in the study. In this study, the researcher did not obtain data from primary sources, which meant that there was no concern about protecting the identity of the participants. However, ensuring that the sources collected were relevant to the study was still necessary, which is why the inclusion criteria discussed above were developed.
The researcher only used publicly available data about Tesco and other supermarkets. It was important to limit it to publicly available data because we did not get consent from the company to collect data from their employees. Dubey and Kothari (2022) note that it is the obligation of the researcher to ensure that all forms of plagiarism are avoided in the study. The researcher wrote the paper from scratch, relying on information from other scholars. Information from these secondary sources was referenced using the Harvard referencing style.
Limitations of the Research
It is necessary to mention the limitations of the research for the benefit of anyone who would want to use the material for policy-making or further research. In this project, data collection was limited to the case study of Tesco Plc. This means that data may be skewed because, as the market leader in this industry, this company does not represent the average image of the industry.
As mentioned above, the researcher limited data collection to secondary sources as the available time meant that primary data could not be collected. It meant that the study could not directly gather the views and perceptions of employees from the targeted companies. The researcher had to rely on information gathered and published by other scholars. The limited source of data means that the information must be used, taking into account this concern. The study was also limited to the United Kingdom supermarket industry, which may differ from other sectors or markets in different countries, especially outside Europe.
Conclusion
The chapter has outlined the methods that were used in this study to collect and process data. It has indicated that case study was the most appropriate research strategy when collecting and processing data. The chapter explains that to critically assess the influence of effective supply management on the British supermarket industry’s gross profit, it was necessary to use quantitative methods. The strategy made it possible to establish the relationship of the relevant variables.
Data Analysis and Findings
Introduction
The previous chapter explained the method that was used to process data in this study. In this chapter, the researcher presents findings made from the analysis and a discussion of the case study. As explained in the previous chapter, the researcher used a case study as the research strategy. The case study was based on Tesco Supermarket, which is the leading industry in the United Kingdom. Findings from those sampled were analyzed statistically to establish the relationship between different variables.
Case Study: Tesco Supermarket
Tesco Supermarket was selected for this case study because it is the market leader in this industry, controlling more than one-quarter of the market share. The firm has been employing various strategies to maintain its lead in the market despite the emergence of other major players in the local market. Information regarding the strategy that this company has been using in its supply chain is widely published in various materials. The researcher found relevant materials that could help understand the issue being investigated. The following was one of the significant questions that the study needed to answer.
How can supply management affect the overall cost of delivering goods to customers?
In this question, the researcher was interested in determining if there is any relationship between supply management and the overall cost of delivering goods to customers. A study of the report by Butt (2021) shows that the cost of delivering goods to customers is directly affected by the supply chain. The study shows that, just like any other company, the cost of making products available in the market is often passed over to customers. For a firm keen on cutting its products’ overall cost, it is necessary to keep the production cost as low as possible. It has to find effective ways of making products available to consumers. It has to ensure that it finds suppliers that offer the lowest prices and then uses effective ways of moving these products to places where customers need them.
The researcher was interested in identifying how an efficient supply chain can affect the costs of delivering products to customers at Tesco. There is a need to ensure that products are delivered to the shelves when they are needed. When the SCM is efficient, adequate products will be delivered to the various outlets of this company periodically, hence eliminating the need to store large amounts of inventory. This means that the supermarket does not need large storage spaces that would cost more to operate in terms of rental fees, energy usage, and the number of employees required.
The study shows that one of the common causes of the high cost of operation is pilferage committed by employees or third parties. Inventory can be stolen when it is in transit from the manufacturer or supplier to the supermarket when it is in storage, or during the process of making a delivery to a client. Employees will be tempted to steal from the firm when the system lacks accountability and proper supervision.
Efficient supply management involves having a clear record of the amount and quantity of items from the manufacturer or supplier to the firm. Once they are received, there will be a countercheck to ensure that all of the purchased items have been received. There will also be an effective mechanism that limits the possibility of an employee or contractor of the firm from stealing anything. The limited time that goods spend in the warehouses reduces the ability to steal.
The study also showed that an effective SCM reduces damage to the inventory. One of the leading causes of damage to inventory is when they have to be handled several times, especially in warehouses. When the system is improved, most items will be moved directly from suppliers to the shelves, reducing damages common in warehouses. An efficient system will also ensure specific responsibilities are assigned to particular employees. This strategy means that whenever there is damage to inventory, it will be possible to trace the individual responsible. It makes the employees to be more careful when handling inventory.
An increase in timely deliveries was another factor associated with efficient SCM. In such a system, information about the needed products flows efficiently from the sales team to the procurement team. The procurement team will then pass the information to the suppliers about what is required and the desired quality and quantity. The products will then be made available at the respective stores at the right time. The efficiency in delivery will also be witnessed when clients place an order through the company’s online platforms. The sales team will ensure that once a purchase has been made, the firm will move quickly to ensure the delivery is made on time.
The study identified lower procurement costs as a factor that helps lower the overall cost of production in an efficient SCM. When the system is efficient, the company can locate companies that offer the greatest value in the market when looking for suppliers. It is also possible for the company, as the market leader in this industry, to negotiate for lower costs of their purchases. They can also develop a close working relationship with suppliers in the market. The second question focused on determining how supply chain management can affect the profitability of this supermarket. The initial question addresses ways in which it reduces the cost of operation. It was necessary to determine if that would translate to an increase in profit for the firm.
How can supply management affect the profitability of a firm?
The researcher wanted to determine the profitability of Tesco over the years and how it relates to supply chain activities. A case study conducted by Riley (2023) shows that the annual statutory profit of Tesco in the United Kingdom and Ireland has been varying over the years for various reasons, one being the supply chain strategies.
It is evident, from Figure 4.1, that in the financial year 2014/15, the company made a loss of over £ 5.33 billion. This was attributed to restructuring activities at the firm as it made attempts to have online stores across the country. The company’s supply chain was disrupted, and the mode of delivering products to customers was redefined. In the following financial year of 2015/16, the company moved from loss-making to profitability. It registered a profit of £ 597 million in that financial year.
In the subsequent years, the firm’s profitability has risen. The figure below shows that in the financial year 2021/22, the firm registered a profit of £ 2.19 billion. It indicates that the firm had mature systems and structures that defined its operations, including the supply chain. It indicated that the firm had found ways of lowering its cost of supply to enable it to enjoy significant profitability. The statistics in this report suggest that Tesco’s increased profitability over the recent past is directly linked to its supply chain activities.
How can supermarkets in the UK use effective supply management to achieve a competitive edge over rivals?
The researcher further wanted to determine how Tesco Supermarket can use effective SCM to achieve a competitive edge over its rivals. Figure 4.2 below shows the market share of some dominant players in the United Kingdom’s supermarket industry. Tesco Supermarket is still the leading player in the industry. In Figure 2.1, shown in the literature review, which was taken in 2019, the company controlled 26.4% of the market share. A comparative study of the data in Figure 2.1 and Figure 4.2 shows an improvement in the firm’s market share. Despite the stiff competition that Tesco faces, it has increased its market share. It is a sign that it is performing better than most of its rivals in the market. Part of the reason why this company is showing improvement is because of its effective supply chain strategies.
The study shows that this firm needs to introduce artificial intelligence into its operations. Thaichon and Quach (2022) explain that AI is rapidly gaining popularity as a tool that makes it possible to process big data and make accurate predictions. Firms that can embrace this technology can benefit from its revolutionary approaches to conducting various activities. Tesco’s supply management can monitor inventory in real-time and predict when it is appropriate to place an order for specific products to ensure that the shelves are never empty while at the same time reducing the need for warehousing as much as possible. The study indicated that Tesco has yet to fully embrace this new technology in managing its supplies.
The case study also shows that Tesco has been closely coordinating the sales and procurement departments to ensure that there is a seamless flow of inventory within the firm. The sales team regularly updates the procurement team about the stock on the supermarket’s shelves and stores (McKevitt, 2022). They also inform the procurement team about the flow rate of specific products. With that information, it becomes possible to plan the products that should be purchased and when they should be made available in the company.
The report shows that it is essential to be responsive to changes in the market. The demand for specific products may suddenly increase or drop depending on various market forces (McKevitt, 2022). When such a change occurs, the firm should be able to respond effectively by lowering or increasing the supply of specific products. Tesco has been keen to respond to these market changes to meet customers’ demands. For instance, during winter, there is always a sudden increase in the demand for heavy clothing. The company would ensure that there is an adequate stock for these products to meet the demand in the market.
Vertical integration was also identified as a strategy in the supply chain that can enable the company to enhance its competitive edge over its rivals. Tesco’s decision to acquire Booker Group, a food supplier in the United Kingdom, for £3.7bn is an example of vertical integration (Kuenssberg, 2017). For a long time, Booker was a food supplier for Tesco’s many outlets nationwide. In a move considered a deliberate decision to increase its scope in the market, the company opted to integrate upwards, giving it independence in its food segment of the business. In other cases, a firm needs to form a lasting partnership with a supplier. The last question focused on determining the forces that can affect Tesco’s supply chain management. The goal was to find ways of managing the negative forces to enhance the effectiveness of supply chain management.
Which forces can disrupt or enhance effective supply management among the local supermarkets?
The review of the relevant literature identified various forces pertinent to effective supply chain management at Tesco Supermarket. The number of suppliers was identified as the most powerful force. When there are few suppliers, they can easily dictate terms favorable to them. Internal policies within a firm were identified as another powerful force. Policies that a firm embraces in its procurement will define the efficiency of SCM. Stiff competition in the market will strengthen the power of the suppliers; hence, it is another major issue. It also became evident that government policies are another primary concern. The transport system and insecurity are the other important forces that can affect effective supply chain management in a supermarket.
Conclusion
The case study conducted about Tesco Supermarket has shown that effective supply management has a direct impact on the gross profit of the company. Data shows that there are specific activities in the supply chain which can increase the cost of delivering products to customers if they are mishandled. Conversely, if the firm handles these activities effectively, it can significantly lower the overall and increase its profitability in the market.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Introduction
This study primarily aimed to examine the influence of efficient supply management on gross profit within the UK supermarket sector. The supermarket industry in the United Kingdom is one of the most competitive because of its number of influential brands. Every firm in this industry is keen on finding ways of achieving high profits to sustain growth despite the stiff competition.
The goal of this study was to evaluate how effective supply management impacts Tesco Supermarket’s gross profit. The previous chapter presents findings from data analysis collected from various sources. The case study shows a direct relationship between the company’s gross profit and its supply chain’s effectiveness.
Summary
The analysis conducted above and the review of the literature conducted in Chapter 2 show that the profitability of a firm is directly associated with the effectiveness of its supply chain management. The analysis revealed that there are various impacts of an effective supply chain on the gross profit of Tesco Supermarket. The researcher was keen on achieving each of the objectives listed in chapter 1 of this paper.
To explore the relationship between supply management and the total cost of delivering goods to customers
This was the first objective that the researcher needed to achieve in the study. The researcher relied on secondary data obtained from the case study to achieve this objective. The data analysis revealed that various factors impact the overall cost of delivering goods to customers.
The first impact is that it reduces warehousing costs. When there is proper planning about when to provide specific amounts of inventory, the need to have a large warehouse is eliminated. The shelves at the supermarket will be replenished at appropriate times, which significantly reduces the need to have large stores at the various outlets. It means that the cost of power, rental space, and employees needed in the warehouse will be significantly reduced. Cost reduction is one of the best ways of lowering the price.
It was established that effective supply management reduces pilferage within a firm. Such a system has proper ways of documenting every purchase made, inspecting the deliveries, and tracking the purchases to ensure that the possibility of theft among employees is eliminated. Employees will be fully aware that every item that has been purchased by the firm and deliveries made to customers will be closely tracked. The knowledge that their actions are monitored and that any malpractice will be revealed almost immediately eliminates the temptation that an employee may have to steal. Pilferage often inflates the cost of operations because the company will be forced to replace items that employees steal. When this vice is eliminated, the overall cost of production will be reduced.
The analysis of data showed that an effective supply chain reduces damage to inventory. The analysis revealed that one of the common causes of damage to inventory is prolonged warehousing, which results in unnecessary handling. An efficient system will ensure that these products are directly taken to the shelves. Increased costs caused by such damages will be reduced significantly. It was also revealed that effective supply chain management increases timely deliveries, meaning customers will have what they need at the right time. The primary also indicated that effective supply management lowers the cost of procurement, especially when a firm considers vertical integration, as Tesco has done.
To specify how supply management influences the profitability of a firm
This objective was achieved by reviewing existing literature on this topic and analyzing secondary data from various sources. This was a direct attempt to explain how supply chain management affects a firm’s profitability. The data analysis indicated that one way it enhances a firm’s profitability is by lowering the cost of making products available to customers.
In the first objective, there is a discussion of various strategies in SCM that can help lower the cost of production. When the cost of production is reduced, the company’s gross profit will be increased. The review of the literature indicated that firms are using various strategies in their supply chain management to enhance profitability.
An efficient SCM will ensure a supermarket’s continuous and timely delivery of inventories. It means that every time customers visit such a firm, they will always find what they need without having to visit a different store. The assurance that consumers have of getting all their needs in one market creates trust and loyalty in the market, which translates to increased sales. An increase in sales would then translate to an increased profitability for the firm.
To investigate how UK supermarkets can leverage efficient supply management to gain a competitive advantage
The researcher relied on secondary data to achieve this objective. The supermarket industry in the United Kingdom is highly competitive. Although Tesco is the market leader in this market, it only controls slightly less than one-quarter of the market share. In recent times, discount stores from Germany made a successful entry into the country and currently control more than 15% of the market share. Emerging technologies in online sales and marketing may present various opportunities in the market, but they also present unprecedented challenges that a firm has to overcome. It forces local players such as Tesco to find unique ways of achieving a competitive edge over rivals in the market.
Strategic partnership in the supply chain has emerged as one of the SCM strategies that these firms use to achieve a competitive advantage in the market. By selecting a few highly reliable suppliers, a supermarket can develop a mutually beneficial long-term arrangement with these suppliers. At Tesco, there are specific suppliers whose products are placed on strategic shelves that can easily be seen by customers because of the partnerships developed. For Tesco, the strategy reduces the cost, while for the supplier, there will be an increase in sales.
To identify factors that may influence the effectiveness of supply management in local supermarkets
The last objective was achieved through the collection and analysis of secondary data. In the previous chapter, various factors that may impact the efficiency of supply chain management have been outlined. The number of suppliers was at the top of the list, with the study indicating that if there are few suppliers in the market, they tend to be more demanding. Internal policies within an organization were noted as another factor. A firm that lacks proper structures and systems for its SCM will encounter various challenges when sourcing for inventory.
Stiff competition among the players in the industry will give the suppliers the power to dictate terms of trade. In such an environment, the terms of sale will always favor the supplier. Government policies may also have a significant negative influence if they limit the ability of a firm to access products from a specific country known to be the main supplier of a specific product. Poor transport systems and insecurity in the country are the other negative factors that can affect supply management in local supermarkets.
Recommendations for Practice
Supply chain management is one of the critical tasks in any organization. Data obtained from secondary sources demonstrate that effective supply management affects the gross profit in the supermarket industry in the United Kingdom. According to the case study of Tesco Plc., the country’s supermarket chain, in terms of market share, the success of a retail store largely depends on how effective its SCM is within a given market. The following recommendations should be considered by the management of a supermarket in the United Kingdom based on the case study of Tesco Plc.:
- It is advisable to consider vertical integration in the supply chain to gain greater control of procurement activities and cut the overall cost of operation;
- It is advisable for a firm to embrace emerging technologies to enhance efficiency in the supply chain, especially the concept of artificial intelligence;
- A firm in this industry should consider investing in the empowerment of their employees in all departments;
- The top management should ensure that there is always a close coordination of activities between the sales and procurement departments.
Recommendation for Further Studies
Future scholars may be interested in conducting further studies in this field to expand their knowledge. Using this material as a background for their study, these scholars should take into consideration the following suggestions:
- There is a need to conduct a comparative study between the supermarket industry in the United Kingdom and the United States to help explain why North American grocery stores find it challenging to enter some of the European markets;
- Further studies are needed to help explain the relationship between an effective supply chain and leadership style within an organization.
- Future scholars should consider collecting data from primary sources to determine the current state of knowledge in this field.
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