In ten years' time, the Netherlands will have two hundred to four hundred fewer supermarkets than now. That is what retail experts predict to Nieuwsuur. The market share of online supermarkets would grow so fast in the coming years that physical branches would be forced to close their doors.
With the arrival of Picnic, a pure online player, large supermarket chains seem to realise that it is time to invest fully in an online shop. Recently, Amazon Fresh also expressed its interest in a Dutch online shop. Spar decided earlier this week that it will connect more branches to the webshop, in order to achieve national coverage online.
Keeping jobs
These developments would reduce the need for physical branches in the long term. Yet Logistics Lecturer Walther Ploos van Amstel does not think that the disappearance of shops will lead to a decrease in jobs in the supermarket sector. "Those will move to the warehouses where orders are picked," he says.
Small, electric delivery vans
Ploos van Amstel also highlights the downside of online grocery ordering. The large number of delivery vans would lead to traffic congestion and environmental pollution. He advocates cooperation in the last mile. "Supermarkets should use the same vehicle when delivering groceries. They should also start using smaller, electric vehicles that better fit the size of the street." Picnic already delivers using electric vehicles and Albert Heijn says it will do the same in the future.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
