Transforming Grocery Retail for Sustainable Futures: A Hybrid Review of Industry-SDG Linkages

The retail grocery industry is essential to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), because it shapes sustainable patterns of production and consumption. The present study conducts a thorough analysis to investigate the changing relationship between the grocery sector and sustainability through a systematic literature review process. By tracking the historical development and significant turning points, the study illustrates how sustainable practices have been incorporated into grocery operations. A bibliometric study reveals significant research gaps and indicates dominant research trends, providing information about the little-known aspects of sustainability in the retail grocery trade. Hence, the study adopts a hybrid perspective incorporating bibliometric analysis and a framework (4W) approach to assess the linkage between grocery retail practices and the SDGs, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical implications. The 4W framework analysis explores the grocery industry’s role in SDG 13 “Climate Action” and reveal lack of attention regarding to industry’s contributions to mitigate climate change. The bibliometric findings indicate that corporate social responsibility, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement, and responsible management are the significant drivers of sustainability in the grocery sector. However, some research gaps exist, such as policy alignment, the role of AI and IoT in sustainability, and the stakeholder engagement models. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary research and collaborative strategies to enhance the sector’s contributions toward sustainable futures. By coordinating grocery retail practices with the SDGs, this study provides a ground plan for policymakers, academicians and practitioners with a path for promoting a sustainable retail grocery ecosystem.