COMPRÉHENSION DES MÉCANISMES DE CONSTRUCTION DES STRATÉGIES DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE DES DISTRIBUTEURS INDÉPENDANTS : UNE ÉTUDE QUALITATIVE

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze mechanisms in building sustainable development’s strategies
of three French independent retailers (Leclerc, Intermarché and Système U) by crossing two
dimensions of the business ecosystem with the Triple Bottom Line (people, planet and profit). A study
of internet sites followed by in-store observations and interviews among sustainable development
managers, store managers and consumers highlight the dominant role of technological innovation
(product innovation, eco-design), the place for cooperation (internal with employees and external
with suppliers) and differences between consumers’ perceptions and retailers practices regarding
sustainable development in stores.