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Assortment is one of the most important tools for retailers differentiating themselves from competitors, attracting customers into the store and increasing their sales. This paper analyzes the relationship between assortment size – in terms of number of Stock Keeping Units – and category sales level. In order to do this, a panel database containing information about assortment size and sales per week between 2008 and 2012 for all hypermarkets and supermarkets operating in Spain is used. Our results confirm a positive and significant relationship between both aspects; nevertheless, the intensity of such result depends on the frequency and penetration of the category under study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse the responsible offer of mainstream retailers. By focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) labelled grocery goods, it aims to study whether consumers are able to make an ethical shopping basket, to create an inventory of CSR labels, and to evaluate the quality of the information conveyed through CSR labels. Design/methodology/approach – Structured observation (audit) was used. Using a template to homogenise data collection, information was recorded for 15 products in eight mainstream retailers in two countries (UK and Spain). Data of 874 products were obtained (548 different brands). Findings – Differences are found across product categories, retailers, type of brands and countries. Private brands are taking the lead in the creation of responsible assortments as well as in the quality of the information provided to consumers. Research limitations/implications – Given the exploratory nature of this paper, a research agenda is built suggesting future avenues of work to further understand the configuration and outcomes of the responsible assortment. Originality/value – This paper fills a gap in the literature, since the issue of responsible assortment has received limited attention, despite its importance as a key pillar of the corporate social responsibility strategy of retailers. It examines comprehensively the size and share of CSR-labelled grocery goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of information and communication technologies can be a source of competitive advantages for the retailer, even if at significant cost. In the present work we try to identify the factors that characterize companies that invest in these technologies to automate warehouse management and, in particular, the relation between the degree of automation and the retail assortment. In order to achieve this aim, we consider a sample of distributors of ceramics and building supplies in Spain. The results suggest that warehouse management automation is related to the depth and breadth of the products carried in the retail assortment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]