Food Retail

Local products, short supply chains, and state-of-the-art logistics

Shopping via drone is no longer science fiction. Since late 2019, Sugar Magnolia, a small American boutique specializing in artisanal products, has been delivering homemade chocolates and popcorn to its customers in Christiansburg using Google drones. This revolution illustrates the new direction of retail and food logistics: a focus on local products, short supply chains, and cutting-edge logistics.

60 % des Français souhaitent privilégier des achats plus locaux et en circuits courts
BVA Survey for EQUANS France

Eating Responsibly and Sustainably

More and more French people want to eat responsibly and sustainably, choosing local, healthy, and safe products. In another major trend amplified by the health crisis, consumers are turning away from suburban supermarkets in favor of short supply chains, small neighborhood grocery stores, specialty food shops, and direct sales from small producers.

Curbside pickup is growing rapidly

Born out of the mass-consumption model, the hypermarket of the future will therefore have to adapt, evolving from massive stores to more human-scale spaces, with a targeted range of food products and services that prioritize quality and locally sourced goods. Neighborhood supermarkets and urban mini-markets are proliferating, driven by consumers’ need for convenience and proximity. At the same time, online grocery shopping continues to break records—from discounters to organic farm-to-table baskets—fueled by the speed and convenience of e-commerce. As a result, home delivery is booming. A simple and flexible solution, curbside pickup is growing even more rapidly and is set to become a permanent fixture, whether at supermarkets, pedestrian-only locations, or farm stands.

La France est la championne d’Europe du drive, avec 5 113 sites drive en 2019, dont 3 720 click & drive
Nielsen

Robotics, Digital Technology, and Artificial Intelligence

This transformation of the retail sector is changing the consumer’s role and the quality of service within the supply chain. In the future, the end customer will be fully integrated into the planning process and will no longer be the last link in the supply chain. Automation, digital technology, and artificial intelligence: operators are rethinking warehousing and logistics to ship food orders faster and more safely than ever.

Refrigeration technologies that are becoming increasingly efficient

In the food cold chain, refrigeration and preservation technologies are focused on performance, both in warehouses and in stores. The boom in curbside pickup is driving the development of innovative refrigerated locker-based distribution systems. On the transportation side, the growth of short-chain deliveries is fueling the expansion of fleets of refrigerated, electric, and connected light commercial vehicles. The equipment is becoming more energy-efficient but, above all, greener, thanks in particular to low-carbon refrigerants that comply with European regulations.

Sysco France & EQUANS France: The ILICO2 Solution

This is the case at Sysco France, a producer and distributor of fresh, frozen, and grocery products for the foodservice industry, where EQUANS France has implemented the ILICO2 solution. The concept? Replace refrigerants with natural, carbon-free alternatives and recover waste heat generated by refrigeration systems. The solution has reduced the site’s energy consumption and prevented the emission of 1,400 metric tons of CO2 per year.

EQUANS, your partner for solutions that combine sustainable process performance, low carbon footprint, and energy efficiency

To enhance the appeal and performance of the retail and food logistics sectors, EQUANS France supports industry professionals as they evolve their businesses. We design and develop customized, comprehensive solutions in partnership with our clients, combining sustainable process performance, low carbon footprint, and energy efficiency.