A triple bottom line decision framework for sustainable business location in the retail sector: a developing country perspective

Purpose Retail location decision-making is considered a critical issue with substantial implications for operational success. Nevertheless, choosing an ideal location is a complex problem involving the consideration of several qualitative-quantitative factors, often in conflict. Currently, there is a paucity of decision frameworks that identify the critical triple bottom line (TBL) criteria to support sustainable retail location choices in developing nations. This study, therefore, aims to offer a TBL framework that establishes the critical set of social, economic and environmental factors and analyses their cause-and-effect relationships for achieving sustainability outcomes in retail location decisions. Design/methodology/approach The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach was used to evaluate the TBL sustainability framework comprising 25 sub-factors based on data collected from decision-makers actively involved in retail location decisions in Ghana. Findings The research results show that all the TBL pillars are prominent and overlap to realise sustainability requirements in retail location decisions. Specifically, the findings reveal that economic criteria are the most prominent component in the TBL framework that drives the social and environmental dimensions toward sustainable retail location decisions. The causal relationships are also highlighted to offer insights into the relevance of the decision criteria and establish a strategic path for achieving sustainability in the location decisions of retail firms. Originality/value The research provides information on the prominent criteria and complex interplay among the TBL parameters to enable decision-makers to make informed location choices that will ultimately increase the sustainability of retail firms operating in developing nations toward improved competitive advantage.