New Logistics Locations in Online and Hybrid Food Retail – The Example of Cologne

Abstract

The online and hybrid food trade in Germany is growing, ac-companied by changing business forms, delivery methods, and location requirements. While previous studies on retail often consider logistics and retail locations separately, the online and hybrid food trade involves different interconnections between warehouses, retail stores, and delivery, each with vary-ing location requirements that require systematic and inter-connected analysis. This paper aims to systematize logistics forms (storage and delivery forms) and their locations con-cerning business forms, delivery speeds, and location factors. This is done through case studies from the Cologne region. Spatial patterns can be identified, where the size of logistics and distribution centres increases with the distance from the city centre to the suburban area. New locations have emerged in quick commerce. Here, micro-logistics centres have settled in inner-city areas, while classical logistics prefer larger distribution centres in suburban industrial areas. Logistics via retail stores is more complex due to the merging of stationary structures and storage capacities, and no clear spatial pattern can be identified.