This page contains details of any 2023 journal article publications by Leigh Sparks. Pre-print versions of these articles are available online from the University of Stirling’s Depository (STORRE) in most cases, or contact the author or Leigh Sparks directly. Previous years publications can be found by following the links under this heading on the main page.
Sparks L. Marketing responses to the taxation of soft drinks; Comment on “Understanding marketing responses to a tax on sugary drinks: a qualitative interview study in the United Kingdom, 2019.” Int J Health Policy Manag. 2023;x(x):x–x. doi:10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7612
The paper by Forde et al (2022) provides a useful qualitative consideration of marketing responses to the implementation of the 2018 Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) in the United Kingdom (UK). This commentary discusses that paper and its conclusions and seeks to place them in a broader context for marketing, fiscal measures and health and public policy. It suggests that modern conceptualisations of marketing and wider considerations of market and non-market strategies could provide a valuable lens to understand the ways in which companies and sectors respond to the threats they perceive and the constantly changing sectoral opportunities. It is important that fiscal measures introduced have the desired effects, and that not only positive behaviours (whether of companies or consumers) are incentivised, but that adverse behaviours are actively disincentivised.
Hannu Saarijärvi, Leigh Sparks, Elina Närvänen, Maijaliisa Erkkola, Mikael Fogelholm and Jaakko Nevalainen (2023) From Transactions to Transformations: Exploring Transformative Food Retailing, International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593969.2023.2213423
Food retailing is undergoing a major restructuring process that is altering its boundaries, service provision and operations. Digitalisation and other technological advances are shifting the focus from products to services, from offline to online and from physical to virtual. Simultaneously, initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are exerting pressure on food retailers to address contemporary global challenges, such as promoting healthy and sustainable consumption and production. However, these areas not only challenge food retailers but also provide opportunities for facilitating favourable dietary changes that benefit consumers, companies and society at large. This study introduces transformative food retailing as a construct that shifts attention to the reconfigured role of food retailing and its potential. We identify the shaping forces and characteristics of transformative food retailing and discuss the implications for consumers, food retailers and society at large. This paper is among the first to define and conceptualise food retail as transformative and, as a result, sets a platform for future scholarly research and practice to uncover the full potential of food retailing in serving both consumers and society.
Leigh Sparks (2023) Urban Logistics and Retailing, Chapter 9, p121-133 of Monios J, Budd L and Ison R (editors) The Routledge Handbook of Urban Logistics. Routledge, ISBN 9781032148571
Retailing logistics has become a highly sophisticated operation over recent decades, attempting to match supply and demand whilst reducing costs. Pressures on urban systems and complications of urban delivery to stores, linked to trends for fast fashion, online sales and omni-channel retailing have increased and added costs and complexity. Concerns over the environmental impact of fashion and retail logistics and recent disruptions to supply chains (such as Brexit, COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and shipping, energy prices and labour shortages) have further pressured retail systems. Retail logistics generally and urban retail logistics specifically have thus begun to be re-assessed.
Retailers’ aim has been to produce a more efficient and effective supply of products to stores and customers and thus enhance the customer experience and in turn increase sales, satisfaction and consumer loyalty. This has resulted in a transformation of approach and operations in retailing, and especially in their supply chains. The transport issues of urban areas in particular have come more into focus and so urban retail logistics has become more significant.
This chapter considers these issues. It begins with a review of logistics and supply chain management and a focus on retail logistics and supply chains. This is followed by a consideration of the main practical issues that have emerged in recent years. The final section provides a consideration of the implications of these recent changes and trends, with a focus on the future shape of urban retail logistics.
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