In the two months March and April, online purchases of food products and basic necessities from large retailers grew by 170 per cent compared with the same period in 2019. These trends are likely to continue in the coming months, accelerating the recomposition of supply, with further developments in business models featuring a mix of traditional and online sales, including for smaller retailers.
This process creates new opportunities, but also transition costs; it will tend to reward the most dynamic and innovative firms. The recession will have significant repercussions on the labour market.