Identifying the determinants of E-commerce offerings among grocery store locations in the United States: A spatial econometric analysis

This paper leverages store location data and analysis software from retail industry vendors to analyze the unique geographies of electronic commerce (e-commerce) offerings among major grocery chains in the United States. Join-Count statistics are calculated to identify patterns of clustering among offerings, and a spatial probit model is implemented to regress various trade area characteristics on a given grocery banner's decision to offer some form of e-commerce (pickup, delivery, or both) or no offering at a given store location. A regional case study of the Southeastern United States demonstrates how model results can shift based on scale, pointing to unique regional dynamics that deviate from broader national trends. This analysis carries implications for location planning and competitive defense strategies in the grocery industry, and also establishes avenues for future research.