Molson Hart

Any good resources/write ups comparing the distribution capabilities of Amazon vs Wal-Mart? Wal-Mart won the discount store wars by leveraging regional rural distribution capabilities & tech, but haven’t seen much talk about how those capabilities factor into e-comm battle w Amzn

I've accumulated some knowledge on this but don't have a good single source (though Made in America is worth reading, but it seems like you've read it already). I would say: 1. Bezos is greatest living profit-oriented CEO. Unless he gets regulated, WM is fucked

2. Walmart's DCs would need to be completely and totally retooled in order to turn in Amazon style FCs, so their "advantage" may not be one. Distributing to stores and homes is very different. 3. Grocery is the only thing WM has over Amazon. That's a huge deal.

Outside of rural areas, in the future, most grocery will be delivered. That's a tricky problem that neither have figured out yet.

4. Walmart has a brand for low-cost, but it's bullshit. Amazon is cheaper for non-grocery if you have a prime account. tl;dr Walmart has a lot of cash but is fucked unless bezos' monopoly is regulated.

Factor 2 is what I wonder about the most. What is the incremental capex requirement to re-tool distribution