Differences in the Perception of Pallet Systems between U.S. and Canadian Grocery Retailers

Packaging logistics addresses the relationship between packaging and logistics within the supply chain context. This paper focuses specifically on the relationship between grocery retailers and their suppliers across several types of pallet systems, as perceived by thirteen U.S. and Canadian retailers. The qualitative research methodology revealed two ways to classify retailers: according to their level of integration with their suppliers, as related to pallet selection and usage; and according to their managerial orientation toward pallets. Cost-oriented and Speed-oriented retailers were found to have different approaches to managing pallets within their distribution networks and across their relationships with suppliers.