EURO 2025 Leeds
Abstract Submission

2336. Delivery planning for grocery retail outlets with delivery time constraints

Invited abstract in session MD-47: Retail Supply Chain Management, stream Retail Operations.

Monday, 14:30-16:00
Room: Parkinson B08

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Heinrich Kuhn
Supply Chain Management & Operations, Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
2. Markus Frank
Supply Chain Management & Operations, Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
3. Wen-Shin Tsai
Supply Chain Management & Operations, Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
4. Stefan Voigt
Department of Supply Chain Management & Operations, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

Abstract

The paper considers the determination of weekly delivery patterns (delivery days) of grocery retail stores and the associated route planning from the distribution center to the stores of the delivery area with multi-compartment vehicles. The problem under consideration includes different assortment classes and store-specific delivery time windows for the respective assortments. This can lead to a situation where a store is supplied with different assortments on the same day, but the respective assortments should be delivered to the store at different times. For example, the dry goods range is requested in the morning and the frozen goods in the afternoon. If both assortment classes are assigned to the same delivery tour of a multi-compartment vehicle, the special situation arises that a store is visited several times during a single tour. Comparable tour planning models have not yet been found in the literature. The paper develops an MIP model and a heuristic solution approach that first defines delivery patterns considering the subsequent delivery planning, and then a decision is made on the daily tour planning. The applicability of the developed model and solution approach is demonstrated using a real example of a large German grocery retailer. The numerical study shows considerable potential for improvement compared to current practice.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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