The objective of this paper is to assess the potential demand for a new value-added cowpea product – cowpea flour for purchase by women street food vendors. We use a non-hypothetical real purchase decision mechanism that involves real purchase exchanges of 1 kg packages of cowpea flour in a...

We use field experiments in Niger to investigate the nature and efficiency of contractual structures in market transactions between kossai vendors and cowpea grinders (key input suppliers). Three contractual structures were employed: gift contract, standard price contract and discretionary bonus...

This research evaluates the effects of entry by supercenters and warehouse clubs on retail grocery sales and the exit of small supermarkets. Drawing on literature from trade area analysis, agglomeration, and location theory, spatial econometric models are estimated. Results suggest that...

The effect of identity preserved premiums on a grain elevator's received volumes is modeled using stochastic simulation across the harvest season. A feedback loop simulates competing elevators' bid prices and tracks producer delivery decisions using arbitrage criteria at competing market...

The explosion of e-business activity presents many challenges to manufacturers, distributors, and dealers as they select a distribution channel for the delivery of products, services, and information. The expected growth in Internet sales by agribusiness firms is analyzed to provide insight into...

Mass merchandisers’ entry into food retailing threatens traditional grocers’ market share. In response, traditional grocers and food manufacturers adopted Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) as an industry-wide set of supply chain management strategies that focused on cutting costs and...

The U.S. retail grocery industry shifted from an industry dominated by small grocers serving local markets to one characterized by large retailers present in international markets. Average retail grocery concentration as measured by CR4 increased from 17.8 in 1982 to 43.0 in 1999 (U.S. Census...

Collaboration and advanced information technology are considered essential for successful supply chain management. The effect of supply chain factors, along with store characteristics, market characteristics, and competitive position are considered upon performance measures for sales...

Changing product characteristics are causing U.S. seed corn companies to reevaluate their inventory strategies. A simulation model based upon the Economic Order Quantity model is built in @Risk to reflect a shortened product life cycle and product proliferation. Inventory costs levels increase...

A debate has emerged in the literature and trade press whether the adoption of Efficient Consumer Response (ECR), the supply chain management initiatives for the food industry, leads to improved inventory and financial performance. Using regression analysis, the financial performance for...