Table 4 The axial codes and the... | Emerald Publishing

Table 4

The axial codes and the descriptions (derived from codes) from a research study)

Axial codes	Second-order codes	Definitions of codes	Coding examples (in bold)
Processes	Digitalisation	Automatisation processes, digital transformation, and usage of digital technologies such as bill payments, self-service cash registers, e-shops, electronic labels, merchandise management, etc.	GER3: “[…in our stores, electronic labels are placed so that every time an employee receives notifications which products must already be discounted, in order to be more efficient in waste management…]” LT1: “[…we already have integrated electronic labels for one vegetable section. It is more convenient for us that everything is controlled from the center, from the computer…]”
	Energy and Logistics & Packing	Energy savings (by using special IT systems, logistics solutions, refrigeration/heating systems, solar energy, CO2 reduction, lean management, etc.), packaging (by using more recyclable package; waste sorting, etc.), logistics (by using more hybrid cars, optimisation of trucks, etc.)	GER1: “[…we need to cool a lot–I think there is further upside potential in cooling…]” LT2: “[…the building itself, by freezing certain rooms, uses the energy it gives off to heat the floor on the other side…]” GER3: “[…we reduce the volume of packaging. We concentrate heavily on repackaging…]” LT3: “[…reduce the use of plastic in packaging, encourage the use of reusable packaging, enable some products to be bought with their reusable packaging…]”
	Waste management	Recycling, including waste sorting, handling, bio-waste, taromat, deposit refund, reusable, empties etc	GER3: “[…we changed packages in order to increase the level of sorting and to increase the recycle ability…]” LT1: “[…the staff responsible for unpacking the products brought by the suppliers are familiar with the principles of sorting and all packaging waste–plastic film, paper boxes, etc…]”
Consumer	Initiatives to community	Actions, which support sustainability (such as food bank initiatives, supporting sport events, charity, support, sharing with farmers and etc.) and related to consumers' and employees' education (training, education, employees engage, etc.)	GER3: “[…our typical customers' level of education is above the average. He is not always rational but has a high quality of consciousness…]” LT1: “[…we pay special attention to the education of children–from early childhood we develop proper nutrition habits, help them to make friends with fruits and vegetables…]”
Consumer	Consumer's Behaviour	Consumers' behaviour, including purchasing habits, culture, frugality, awareness, maturity, responsibility, values, preferences, etc	GER2: “[…the interest for sustainable products increased however not every customer really question every product…]” LT1: “[…our main user is a conscious, rational person who does not see the added value of maybe something in the brand name, and actually looks, well, what's in that pack and what I get for a certain amount of money…]”
Product	Healthy Products	Sustainable products such as whole food, vegetarian food, eco products, sugar free, organic products, etc	GER2: “[…vegan, sugar, gluten free products are increasingly being asked…]” LT2: “[…takes care of all initiatives such as sugar reduction…]” LT1: “[…it is possible to find products without gluten or added sugar or with a lower fat content…]”
Product	Origin of the products	Origin of the product such as local products, private label products, food from the region, local farmers, etc	GER1: “[… I know, how the farmer of that sweet pepper looks like. This is important for me, that distinguishes me from my competitors. They cannot say that, or they cannot order from a regional farmer. It is important for me…]” LT3: “[…we try to cooperate as much as possible with local farmers. Some of our stores contain up to 80–90% fresh produce from local farmers…]” LT1: “[… we are working with local farmers to some extent. It's tricky because they have irregular quantities…]”

Axial codes	Second-order codes	Definitions of codes	Coding examples (in bold)
Processes	Digitalisation	Automatisation processes, digital transformation, and usage of digital technologies such as bill payments, self-service cash registers, e-shops, electronic labels, merchandise management, etc.	GER3: “[…in our stores, electronic labels are placed so that every time an employee receives notifications which products must already be discounted, in order to be more efficient in waste management…]” LT1: “[…we already have integrated electronic labels for one vegetable section. It is more convenient for us that everything is controlled from the center, from the computer…]”
	Energy and Logistics & Packing	Energy savings (by using special IT systems, logistics solutions, refrigeration/heating systems, solar energy, CO2 reduction, lean management, etc.), packaging (by using more recyclable package; waste sorting, etc.), logistics (by using more hybrid cars, optimisation of trucks, etc.)	GER1: “[…we need to cool a lot–I think there is further upside potential in cooling…]”LT2: “[…the building itself, by freezing certain rooms, uses the energy it gives off to heat the floor on the other side…]”GER3: “[…we reduce the volume of packaging. We concentrate heavily on repackaging…]”LT3: “[…reduce the use of plastic in packaging, encourage the use of reusable packaging, enable some products to be bought with their reusable packaging…]”
	Waste management	Recycling, including waste sorting, handling, bio-waste, taromat, deposit refund, reusable, empties etc	GER3: “[…we changed packages in order to increase the level of sorting and to increase the recycle ability…]”LT1: “[…the staff responsible for unpacking the products brought by the suppliers are familiar with the principles of sorting and all packaging waste–plastic film, paper boxes, etc…]”
Consumer	Initiatives to community	Actions, which support sustainability (such as food bank initiatives, supporting sport events, charity, support, sharing with farmers and etc.) and related to consumers' and employees' education (training, education, employees engage, etc.)	GER3: “[…our typical customers' level of education is above the average. He is not always rational but has a high quality of consciousness…]”LT1: “[…we pay special attention to the education of children–from early childhood we develop proper nutrition habits, help them to make friends with fruits and vegetables…]”
Consumer	Consumer's Behaviour	Consumers' behaviour, including purchasing habits, culture, frugality, awareness, maturity, responsibility, values, preferences, etc	GER2: “[…the interest for sustainable products increased however not every customer really question every product…]”LT1: “[…our main user is a conscious, rational person who does not see the added value of maybe something in the brand name, and actually looks, well, what's in that pack and what I get for a certain amount of money…]”
Product	Healthy Products	Sustainable products such as whole food, vegetarian food, eco products, sugar free, organic products, etc	GER2: “[…vegan, sugar, gluten free products are increasingly being asked…]”LT2: “[…takes care of all initiatives such as sugar reduction…]”LT1: “[…it is possible to find products without gluten or added sugar or with a lower fat content…]”
Product	Origin of the products	Origin of the product such as local products, private label products, food from the region, local farmers, etc	GER1: “[… I know, how the farmer of that sweet pepper looks like. This is important for me, that distinguishes me from my competitors. They cannot say that, or they cannot order from a regional farmer. It is important for me…]”LT3: “[…we try to cooperate as much as possible with local farmers. Some of our stores contain up to 80–90% fresh produce from local farmers…]”LT1: “[… we are working with local farmers to some extent. It's tricky because they have irregular quantities…]”