Log in

EDLP versus Hi–Lo pricing strategies in retailing—a state of the art article

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Business Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The pricing strategy is seen as one of the five most important priorities in retail management. Over the past years, price wars have emerged and price has become an even more focal point of retailers’ agendas. Especially grocery retailers operate on very low margins and have fallen into a price-promotion trap, pressured both by competition and consumers. In times of intensive competition it is getting even more important for retailers to focus on profitable and successful pricing strategies. Furthermore, retailers act under complex circumstances, especially because of broad assortments, and should therefore define a clear framework for their pricing strategy. There are several studies which have been published on pricing strategy in retailing during the last years, but no comprehensive literature review of this topic with its determinants and outcomes exists. Based on the theoretical and conceptual foundations of pricing strategy in retailing, all relevant conceptual and empirical studies are analyzed. First, the different definitions of pricing strategy in retailing are examined and systemized. Furthermore, a division into studies on determinants and outcomes of pricing strategy in retailing is included followed by a discussion of main and further results. Based on this analysis of the existing literature, avenues for further research are identified and prioritized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahlert D, Kenning P (2007) Handelsmarketing. Springer, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Ailawadi KL, Beauchamp JP, Donthu N, Gauri DK, Shankar V (2009) Communication and promotion decisions in retailing: a review and directions for future research. J Retail 85(1):42–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey AA (2008) Evaluating consumer response to EDLPs. J Retail Consum Serv 15(3):211–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth K, Hartmann M, Schröder H (2007) Betriebswirtschaftslehre des Handels, 6th edn. Gabler, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell DR, Lattin JM (1998) Shop** behavior and consumer preference for store price format: why “large basket” shoppers prefer EDLP. Mark Sci 17(1):66–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell DR, Ho T-H, Tang CS (1998) Determining where to shop: fixed and variable costs of shop**. J Mark Res 35(3):352–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berekoven L (1995) Erfolgreiches Einzelhandelsmarketing, 2nd edn. Beck, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Boatwright P, Dhar S, Rossi PE (2004) The role of retail competition, demographics and account retail strategy as drivers of promotional sensitivity. Quant Mark Econ 2(2):169–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton RN, Shankar V (2003) An empirically derived taxonomy of retailer pricing and promotion strategies. J Retail 79(4):213–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton RN, Shankar V, Montoya DY (2007) Recent trends and emerging practices in retailer pricing. In: Krafft M, Mantrala MK (eds) Retailing in the 21st century: current and future trends. Springer, Berlin, pp 255–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton RN, Shankar V, Montoya DY (2010) Recent trends and emerging practices in retailer pricing. In: Krafft M, Mantrala MK (eds) Retailing in the 21st century: current and future trends, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin, pp 301–318

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cataluna FJR, Franco MJS, Ramos AFV (2005) Are hypermarket prices different from discount store prices? J Product Brand Manag 14(4):330–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhar SK, Hoch SJ (1997) Why store brand penetration varies by retailer. Mark Sci 16(3):208–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diller H (2008) Preispolitik. 4. Aufl. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart

  • Ellickson PB, Misra S (2008) Supermarket pricing strategies. Mark Sci 27(5):811–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gauri DK, Trivedi M, Grewal D (2008) Understanding the determinants of retail strategy: an empirical analysis. J Retail 84(3):256–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gauri D, Janakiraman R, Kalayanam K, Kannan PK, Ratchford B, Song R, Tolerico S (2010) Strategic online and offline retail pricing: a review and research agenda. J Interact Mark 24(2):138–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grewal D, Levy M (2007) Retailing research: past, present, and future. J Retail 83(4):447–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoch SJ, Drèze X, Purk ME (1994) EDLP, Hi–Lo, and margin arithmetic. J Mark 58(4):16–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kocas C, Bohlmann JD (2008) Segmented switchers and retailer pricing strategies. J Mark 72(3):124–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopalle P, Biswas D, Chintagunta PK, Fan J, Pauwels K, Ratchford BT, Sills JA (2009) Retailer pricing and competitive effects. J Retail 85(1):56–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R, Rao R (1997) Supermarket competition: the case of every day low pricing. Mark Sci 16(1):60–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lattin JM, Ortmeyer G (1991) A theoretical rationale for everyday low pricing by grocery retailers. Research paper 1144, Stanford University, Stanford

  • Levy M, Grewal D, Kopalle PK, Hess JD (2004) Emerging trends in retail pricing practice: implications for research. J Retail 80(3):13–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liebmann H-P, Zentes J, Swoboda B (2008) Handelsmanagement, 2nd edn. Vahlen, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Monroe KB (2003) Pricing: making profitable decisions, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulhern FJ, Leone RP (1990) Retail promotional advertising. J Bus Res 21(3):179–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagle TT, Hogan JE, Zale J (2011) The strategy and tactics of pricing, 5th edn. Pearson, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Neslin SA, Shoemaker RW (1994) The relationship between retail EDLP pricing and repeat purchasing. Working paper

  • Nijs VR, Srinivasan S, Pauwels K (2007) Retail-price drivers and retailer profits. Mark Sci 26(4):473–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyström H, Tamsons H, Thams R (1975) An experiment in price generalization and discrimination. J Mark Res 12(2):177–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortmeyer G, Quelch JA, Salmon W (1991) Restoring credibility to retail pricing. Sloan Manag Rev 33(1):55–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Pechtl H (2004) Profiling intrinsic deal proneness for HILO and EDLP price promotion strategies. J Retail Consum Serv 11(4):223–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popkowski Leszczyc PTL, Sinha A, Timmermans HJP (2000) Consumer store choice dynamics: an analysis of the competitive market structure for grocery stores. J Retail 73(3):323–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popkowski Leszczyc PTL, Sinha A, Sahgal A (2004) The effect of multi-purpose shop** on pricing and location strategy for grocery stores. J Retail 80(2):85–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao VR (1984) Pricing research in marketing: the state of the art. J Bus 57(1):39–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao VR, Kartono B (2009) Pricing objectives and strategies: a cross-country survey. In: Rao VR (ed) Handbook of pricing research in marketing. Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 9–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheuch F (2007) Marketing, 6th edn. Vahlen, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankar V, Bolton RN (2004) An empirical analysis of determinants of retailer pricing strategy. J Retail 23(1):28–49 (In: Diller H, Herrmann A (Hrsg) Handbuch Preispolitik)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankar V, Krishnamurthi L (1996) Relating price sensitivity to retailer promotional variables and pricing policy: an empirical analysis. J Retail 72(3):249–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon H, Fassnacht M (2009) Preismanagement, 3. Aufl, Gabler

    Google Scholar 

  • Suri R, Manchanda RV, Kohli CS (2000) Brand evaluations: a comparison of fixed price and discounted price offers. J Product Brand Manag 9(3):193–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suri R, Manchanda RV, Kohli CS (2002) Comparing fixed price and discounted price strategies: the role of affect on evaluations. J Product Brand Manag 11(3):160–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang CS, Bell DR, Ho T-H (2001) Store choice and shop** behavior: how price format works. Calif Manag Rev 43(2):56–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsiros M, Hardesy DM (2010) Ending a price promotion: retracting it in one step or phasing it out gradually. J Mark 74(1):49–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voss GB, Seiders K (2003) Exploring the effect of retail sector and firm characteristics on retail price promotion strategy. J Retail 79(1):37–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiltinger K (1998) Preismanagement in der unternehmerischen praxis: probleme der organisatorischen implementierung. Gabler, Wiesbaden

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Fassnacht.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fassnacht, M., El Husseini, S. EDLP versus Hi–Lo pricing strategies in retailing—a state of the art article. J Bus Econ 83, 259–289 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-012-0648-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-012-0648-y

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation