Food large distribution: is research in accordance with history? - The author presents a historical view of modern retail, particularly since the 1960 years. He points out factors such as that technological changes in the information systems, the emerging economic power of retailers and the new fears of the consumer explain some of the new concepts that emerge in the relationships between retail and its suppliers. He looks into research work at INRA since 1978 by agro economists and management scholars, and finds that there is a lag between this academic production and the importance of current debates on these matters. He suggests some explanations and reviews briefly some of the conceptual tools that may help explore the economics of food retail, and the changes that are occuring in vertical relations in the food sectors.
