Dynamics in a Mature Industry: Entry, Exit, and Growth of Big‐Box Grocery Retailers
25 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2015
There are 2 versions of this paper
Dynamics in a Mature Industry: Entry, Exit, and Growth of Big-Box Grocery Retailers
Date Written: Spring 2015
Abstract
This paper measures market dynamics within the U.S. grocery industry (defined as supermarket, supercenter, and club retailers). We find that despite being a mature industry, the grocery industry is remarkably dynamic. Each year retailers open or close roughly 7% of U.S. stores. We also find significant changes in the size of firms’ operations within markets over time. These changes in relative size are largely the result of expansion or contraction by incumbents rather than the result of firm entry or exit. In fact, entry and exit are quite rare, except by small firms. Moreover, only in small markets do new entrants gain substantial market share.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation