The Traveling Salesman Goes Shopping: The Systematic Deviations of Grocery Paths from TSP-Optimality

23 Pages Posted: 9 Nov 2006 Last revised: 4 Apr 2012

See all articles by Sam K. Hui

Sam K. Hui

New York University (NYU) - Department of Marketing

Peter Fader

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department

Eric Bradlow

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department

Date Written: January 1, 2008

Abstract

We examine grocery shopping paths through the lens of the Traveling We examine grocery shopping paths through the lens of the "Traveling Salesman Problem" (TSP), a classic paradigm from the field of operations research. We define the "TSP-optimal" path for each shopper as the shortest path that connects all of his purchases, and we study the systematic deviations seen in his actual behavior. We decompose the length of each observed path into three components: the length of the TSP-optimal path, the additional distance due to order deviation (i.e., not following the TSP-optimal order of category purchases), and the additional distance due to travel deviation (i.e., not following the shortest point-to-point paths). We then explore the relationship between these deviations and purchase behavior. Among other things, our results show a strong relationship between order deviation and basket size, but no association between travel deviation and basket size. Finally, we look at the implications of relaxing three of the rigid assumptions of the TSP by allowing for: (1) varying degrees of "forward-lookingness" across shoppers based on their observed order of purchases, (2) the possibility of unplanned purchases, and (3) the possibility of planned category visits but no resulting purchases.

Keywords: Path models, Traveling Salesman Problem, Grocery Retailing

Suggested Citation

Hui, Sam K. and Fader, Peter and Bradlow, Eric, The Traveling Salesman Goes Shopping: The Systematic Deviations of Grocery Paths from TSP-Optimality (January 1, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=942570 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.942570

Sam K. Hui

New York University (NYU) - Department of Marketing ( email )

Henry Kaufman Ctr
44 W 4 St.
New York, NY
United States

Peter Fader (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department ( email )

700 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
3730 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6340
United States

Eric Bradlow

University of Pennsylvania - Marketing Department ( email )

700 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
3730 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6340
United States
215-898-8255 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
1,824
Abstract Views
7,374
Rank
17,231
PlumX Metrics