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Organising the supply chain in large-scale food retail
In food retail, flows must meet demand while accounting for product constraints. Structure your supply chain to coordinate procurement, storage and distribution more effectively. Develop a shared understanding of priorities and areas requiring attention.
- Duration
- 3 days 21 hours
- Code
- SUPC005FR Code
Presentation
In the dynamic food retail sector, supply chain efficiency is a key success factor. This course focuses on food retail practices supported by an extensive distribution network . It highlights the crucial role of logistics, which has shaped how major retailers are organised, from the emergence of the sector to its current transformation.
The programme begins with the fundamentals of large-scale food retail, before examining store formats and product grouping. It then analyses logistics and purchasing functions, supply chain management, geographical organisation and cost trade-offs. The course also covers transport management and cooperation, concluding with a study of recent developments in logistics.
This course provides a unique opportunity to acquire practical skills from a subject-matter expert. With over 15 years of experience, the trainer delivers concrete, directly applicable learning. In just 3 days, you can strengthen your understanding and management of the supply chain in large-scale food retail to improve professional performance.
Objectives
By the end of this food supply chain course, you will be able to:
- Identify and describe different large-scale food retail store formats and their characteristics;
- manage inventory, transport and distribution processes in large-scale food retail, including logistics platforms;
- explain how geographical organisation affects logistics costs and make informed trade-offs;
- assess the advantages and disadvantages of different forms of cooperation in large-scale food retail supply chains and propose collaborative strategies;
- compare recent developments and anticipate future trends in the organisation of large-scale food retail supply chains, incorporating logistics innovations.
Program
Module 1: Understanding the fundamentals of large-scale food retail
- The foundations of large-scale food retail organisation.
- Store formats in large-scale food retail.
- Product grouping.
- The relationship between large-scale food retail and the retail trade.
- Stakeholders in large-scale food retail.
- Assessing formats, products, the relationship and stakeholders.
Case study:
- Analysing food retail chains by legal structure.
Module 2: Organising large-scale food retail supply chains
- Supply chain fundamentals in large-scale food retail.
- The difference between logistics and the supply chain.
- The logistics and purchasing functions and their importance for major retailers.
- Supply chain management (SCM).
- Demand-driven supply chain organisation.
- The concept and value of logistics platforms.
- Differences from a logistics warehouse.
- The advantages of retailer distribution platforms:
- large sales areas;
- lower inventory levels (financial savings);
- improved service levels;
- reduced transport costs.
- Flow improvements and the contribution of logistics.
Case study:
- Analysing two logistics network models in large-scale retail.
Module 3: Understanding geographical organisation and making cost trade-offs
- The basics of geographical organisation and costs.
- Logistics costs.
- Logistics specialisation.
- Logistics strategies in use.
- Types of logistics organisation in food retail.
- The difference between subcontracting and outsourcing.
- Assessing costs, strategies and organisational arrangements.
Interactive quiz (Wooclap)
Module 4: Managing transport
- Transport management fundamentals.
- The difference between transport and logistics.
- Upstream and downstream logistics segmentation.
- Organising transport for each segment.
- Monitoring carriers and services.
- Actions to support sustainable development.
- Assessing organisation, monitoring and actions.
Discussion:
- Discussing the handbook "Solutions multi-acteurs d'optimisation du transport routier pour un développement durable" (multi-stakeholder solutions for optimising road transport for sustainable development, ECR France).
Module 5: Analysing cooperation in supply chains
- The fundamentals of supply chain cooperation.
- The concept of flows in the supply chain.
- The concept of cooperation.
- Applying cooperation in large-scale food retail.
- Different forms of cooperation.
- Assessing the forms and applications of cooperation.
Discussion:
- Sharing your practices and strategies for cooperation between supply chain stakeholders.
Kahoot quiz
Module 6: Studying developments in supply chains
- The fundamentals of supply chain developments.
- The challenge of logistics innovation.
- The concept of logistics innovation.
- Examples of innovative solutions:
- The reasons behind these solutions.
Case study:
- Analysing shared logistics projects in French large-scale retail (2007–2020).
Audience
This course is intended for:
- Anyone working or seeking to work in large-scale food retail, including:
- Retail assistants;
- Operations managers;
- Department managers;
- Business unit managers;
- Purchasing managers;
- Managers of warehouses, central purchasing organisations or food logistics platforms.
Prerequisites
This course requires the following prerequisites:
- Knowledge of fundamental logistics concepts, including inventory management, transport modes and supply chain principles;
- Familiarity with the large-scale retail sector, particularly its terminology.
Teaching and assessment methods
- Initial skills assessment
- Training materials provided to participants
- Continuous assessment throughout the course
- End-of-course feedback questionnaire
- Combination of theory and practical application
- Attendance records
- Post-course follow-up evaluation
- Quiz / multiple-choice questions
- Case study
Course highlights
- Trainer expertise: delivered by a food retail professional with over 15 years of operational experience, ensuring learning grounded in the realities of the sector.
- Practical, operational content: acquire knowledge and practices directly applicable to designing and managing logistics operations in large-scale food retail.
- Interactive methodology: an active approach promoting learning by doing, combining theory, real-world case studies and discussions.
- Comprehensive learning materials: detailed course materials and practical tools (templates, analysis grids, etc.) to help apply learning in the workplace.
Dates and sessions
Choose the date and delivery format that suit you.
No upcoming sessions are currently available.