Editorial

Citation

Broadbridge, A. (2002), "Editorial", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 30 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm.2002.08930gaa.001

Editorial

This issue of Retail Insights begins with a paper by Michael J. Tippins et al.. Taking into consideration both the farmers' and consumers' perspectives, they examine direct farm-to-table food marketing in the USA. Their findings show that there is a wide range of advocates to this method for food distribution. Many consumers feel nostalgic about farm-to-table food marketing and associate this method of distribution with perceived quality, price and/or recreational values. However, restrictions such as location, shopping hours and product ranges overshadow these perceived advantages. This leads the authors to conclude that direct farm-to-table distribution in the USA comprises only a very minor segment of the food distribution system in terms of size and importance.

The second article, by Stefan Borchert, examines efficient consumer response between manufacturers and retailing organisations in the German food industry. His paper, which is based on his Doctoral dissertation, reveals implementation problems and reasons for abandoning attempts at ECR partnerships.

Finally there follow:

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  A commentary about business continuity and disaster recovery in the retail sector.

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  The announcement of the recently published Retailing: Critical Concepts,a four-volume collection of key retail articles published over the last 50 years, and edited by Leigh Sparks and Anne Findlay.

Adelina BroadbridgeUniversity of Stirling