Fast Track To Shelves: Find Out Which Company Leads The Pack In Rapid Retail Distribution

Although Mondelez, Dabur, Nestle, Tata Consumer, Godrej, and Colpal may not have secured spots in the top 10 rankings, most retailers are content with the promptness of their delivery services

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) delivers the products fastest to retail stores, according to a survey conducted by the Kirana Club released on Tuesday. Efficient order delivery is paramount for retailers. Given that most Kiranas operate with constrained inventory, the swiftness of delivery emerges as a critical factor. Parle acquired the second spot, Haldirams took the third, Coca-Cola took the fourth, Adani Wilmer took the fifth, P&G took the sixth, ITC took the seventh, Balaji took the eighth, Britannia took the ninth, and Pepsico took the tenth spot in brands delivering at the fastest speed to the retail shops.

Although Mondelez, Dabur, Nestle, Tata Consumer, Godrej, and Colpal may not have secured spots in the top 10 rankings, most retailers are content with the promptness of their delivery services. These brands consistently uphold a dependable standard of service that aligns with retailers' expectations.

Even though retailers may not expect the 10-minute deliveries that many consumers are used to nowadays, they do prioritise prompt service. The majority prefer orders to arrive within 1 to 3 days, with a timeframe of under 48 hours being particularly favourable. Nonetheless, urban retailers often emphasise the necessity for expedited delivery, expressing a preference for shipments to be completed within 24 hours.

Inventory Management

The report considers several factors measuring FMCG brands’ efficiency, such as inventory management, shelf life, handling returns, etc. When it comes to inventory management, the reports state that most of the out-of-stock items are from Amul; Mondeleze took the second spot; Coco Cola took the third place, Parle took the fourth spot, fifth HUL, sixth Britannia, seventh by Dabur, eighth by Halidram, ninth by Nestle and ITC took the tenth place.

The survey highlighted several brands that were hardly mentioned by retailers in discussions regarding stock-related concerns. Brands such as P&G, PepsiCo, Marico, and Godrej were notably absent from these conversations, indicating their commendable performance in inventory management.

Near-Expiry Products

The presence of near-expiry or defective products poses significant challenges for retailers, impacting their business operations and tarnishing both the brand's and the retailer's reputation. The brands most commonly linked with near-expiry or damaged goods include Britannia, Amul, Parle, Pepsico, Nestle, Patanjali, HUL, Coca Cola, Dabur and ITC.

Packaged food brands top the list of retailers' apprehensions regarding near-expiry or defective products, mainly due to their shorter shelf lives and vulnerability to damage. However, retailers rarely mentioned Marico, Mondelez, P&G, and Adani Wilmar in conversations about these concerns, indicating their commendable performance in managing such issues.

Easy Returns

Product returns are an integral part of the retail landscape. They stem from various factors such as expiration, sluggish sales, or other issues that necessitate the return of products. In the report, retailers evaluated their experiences returning products to various brands. While some brands facilitate seamless returns, others elicit frustration among retailers. 

Coca-Cola, Patanjali, Dabur, Colgate, HUL, Nestle, and Haldirams are brands having issues with returns. Brands offering a seamless return policy include Mondelez, P&G, Parle, Godgrej, Britannia, Pepsico, and ITC. When retailers encounter issues in accepting returns, it deters them from experimenting with new products, which could potentially impede the growth of the brand.