The acceleration in the development of e-commerce in recent years has brought about major transformations in food retailing. This can be seen with new concepts developing like “drive-throughs”, “dark kitchens” and “dark stores” which compete with tradition food retail outlets.
Traditionally, food products in Paris are distributed, on the one hand, via small local and artisanal shops (green-grocers, bakeries, butchers, wine merchants, etc.) and on the other hand through large scale distribution at various types of shops (mini-markets, supermarkets even hypermarkets). For about two years, new distribution channels have been developing in Paris such as “drive-throughs” and more recently “dark kitchens and “dark stores”. The development of the latter two types of outlet has been accelerated by the Covid-19 health crisis. The study takes stock of the arrival of these new food distribution players in Paris at the beginning of 2022 and describes the consequences they have on public space, Parisians’ tranquility and the working conditions of delivery personnel.
