Spatial evolution and influencing factors of new retail supply chain networks: Freshippo case study

Under the impetus of digitalization and globalization, the new retail model is profoundly reshaping the construction and operation of traditional supply and sales networks. Although existing research has examined either the production or the sales aspects of the retail industry, it still falls short in its analysis of the spatial dynamics and the underlying drivers of the integrated production-sales supply chain. In response to this gap, this study draws on a time-series dataset covering the period from 2019 to 2024 to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of the supply chain networks of China's leading new retail enterprise, Freshippo, in emerging markets. Furthermore, it aims to uncover transformations in both the structural configurations and the evolutionary mechanisms of these networks. We employ Geographical detectors and Pearson correlation analysis to analyze the factors influencing the formation of supply chain networks. The research results indicate that, through precise layout and collaborative efforts at both the production and sales sides, the supply chain of the new retail network has significantly improved in terms of quantity, scope, and efficiency. Moreover, the network formation model has expanded from local to regional and cross-regional scales, forming a multi-level, highly collaborative supply and sales system. Considering the impact of the pandemic, the expansion strategy of the supply chain network experienced rapid growth fueled by “contactless consumption” during the pandemic, shifting toward more refined management after the lifting of lockdowns. In addition, the intensity of network formation is significantly influenced by market consumption power, logistics and transportation capacity, and the digital environment, while agricultural production capacity and the natural environment exert significant inhibitory effects. Furthermore, both single-factor and multi-factor interactions have significant impacts on the spatial heterogeneity of network formation intensity. Within the integrated framework of location theory, diffusion theory, and platform governance, the research findings expand the theoretical boundaries of the evolution of new retail supply chains and provide both theoretical guidance and practical insights for analyzing their spatial organization and governance mechanisms.