In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Rita Kerbaj, Chief Strategy Officer at the Rohlik Group, joins Omni Talk to discuss the evolving economics of online grocery and what retailers need to do to build a profitable e-grocery business for the long term.
Drawing from Rohlik Group’s success operating one of Europe’s leading online grocery businesses, Rita explains why the industry’s early struggles with profitability stemmed from inefficient fulfillment, small basket sizes, and costly last-mile operations. She also shares how retailers can leverage automation, fulfillment centers, and integrated omnichannel strategies to meet growing customer expectations while improving unit economics and building sustainable long-term growth.
Key Topics Covered:
• Why online grocery was historically considered structurally unprofitable
• How larger basket sizes and dedicated fulfillment networks improve unit economics
• Why same-day grocery delivery can be profitable when supported by the right infrastructure
• The role of dark stores, micro-fulfillment centers, and automated fulfillment operations
• When store-based picking still makes sense and when retailers should move beyond it
• Why order density and demand concentration are critical to profitability
• How Rohlik Group built a successful online grocery business without physical stores
• The importance of creating a unified omnichannel operating model
• How AI, automation, and connected systems are transforming grocery fulfillment
• Why the future winners in grocery will optimize both customer experience and operational efficiency
P.S. To explore more conversations from the OmniTalk Five Insightful Minutes Series, head here: omnitalk.blog/category/5-insight-minutes-videos/
Music by hooksounds.com
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Omni Talk® is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton founded Omni Talk® in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail.