As retailers have become larger and as their abilities have increased,
they have been better able to exploit international product sourcing
and buying opportunities. For many products, the costs of production
are much lower in countries outside the developed world and it
therefore makes economic sense to manufacture abroad and transport
the product. Any British supermarket contains many non-UK or non-
EU products. Control of the supply chain is thus vital to get products to
the stores in good condition. This process of retailer control of supply
systems and the use of computer technology for control of central
distribution have been key features of recent years. British food
retailers’ logistics systems are amongst the most efficient in the world
as a consequence (Fernie and Sparks, 2004; Fernie and Staines, 2001;
McKinsey, 1998).