• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.1-22
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• 2005

The major objectives of this study are twofold. The first is to discover which in-store tactics influence store performance when a retailer implements category management in variety enhancer and fill-ins categories. The second is to analyze how and why specific in-store tactics achieve better or worse performance than other in-store tactics across categories. The data were collected using scanner data and direct observations in 'A' discount store which is one of the representative discount stores in Korea. The in-store tactics were measured by product assortment, temporary price discount, price and non-price promotion, and shelving. The store performance was measured by sales and gross margin return on inventory investmant(GMROI). Empirical results analyzed by multiple regression were as follows: In variety enhancer category, the significant factors affecting sales were product assortment, temporary price discount, price promotion, and shelving. Non-price promotion also influenced GMROI positively but product assortment impacted on GMROI negatively. In fill-ins category, the significant factors affecting sales and GMROI were product assortment and shelving. However, the other factors such as temporary price discount, price promotion, and non-price promotion had no significant influence on both sales and GMROI. This paper presents a number of theoretical and managerial implications of the empirical results and concludes by addressing limitations and future research directions.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.23-48
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• 2007

Category management has been implemented to enhance competitiveness in the food distribution industry since 2000 in Korea. This study helps to understand why suppliers achieve better or worse performance than competitors in a category. The major objective of this article is to explore which category tactics are effective to have influence on category performance when suppliers as a category captain implement category management with variety enhancer categories like shampoo, toothpaste, and detergent. The Nielsen data were analyzed using regression and Chow test. The empirical results that were varied upon the store type and market position found out which specific actions on product assortments, pricing, shelving, and product replenishment can increase category sales. Specifically, in the case of market leader in large supermarket, the significant indicators of category sales with respect to category tactics are the out-of-stock rate, the variance across brand shares, the forward inventory, and the days supply of a product. However, in the case of follower in large supermarket, the significant indicators of category sales are the variance across brand shares, the forward inventory, and the days supply of a product. On the other hand, in the case of small supermarket, the significant factors on category sales for both market leader and follower are the retail distribution rate, the variance across brand shares, the forward inventory, and the days supply of a product category. In sum, regardless of the store type and market position, dominant brands in a category, the forward inventory, and short days supply of a product improved performance in all categories. Critical difference is that the out-of-stock rate acted as a key ingredient for the market leader between large and small supermarket and the retail distribution rate for the follower between large and small supermarket. This article presents some theoretical and managerial implications of the empirical results and finalizes the paper by addressing limitations and future research directions.