Päivittäistavaroiden kotiinkuljetus- ja noutopalvelut osana päivittäistavarakaupan palveluverkkoa – viitekehys ja empiirinen tarkastelu

Abstract

Consumers are not equal in their access to grocery retail services. This may be due to geographical location or personal constraints. Our theoretical framework builds on the concept of accessibility of retail services, with emphasis on service gaps, defined as residential areas lacking services that meet consumers’ needs. Such gaps may arise when local outlets (if any) provide limited assortments and higher prices compared to larger stores. Empirically, we examine three residential areas in Turku, Finland, that differ in demographic profiles and retail supply structures, focusing on the accessibility of home delivery and pickup services. The study reveals marked differences in service provision, with the more disadvantaged and sparsely populated areas suffering from a scarcity of retail services. The everyday convenience and well-being of older and worse-off consumers were particularly affected, whereas younger and better-off consumers were more willing and able to adopt digital services despite the additional costs involved.