** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RISING FOOD-PRICE INFLATION INEVITABLY CALLS THE COMPETITIVENESS OF US FOOD RETAILERS INTO QUESTION. HOWEVER, PUBLIC POLICY MEASURES TEND TO IGNORE THE DETAILS OF HOW COMPETITION AMONG FIRMS IS BORNE OUT IN PRACTICE. MANAGERS IN THE FOOD RETAILING SECTOR, FOR INSTANCE, ARE HYPER-FOCUSED ON COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES ON MANY LEVELS, AND CONSIDER FAR MORE THAN JUST THE PRICES AND WAGES THAT DRAW POLICY MAKERS' INTERESTS. IN THE PROPOSED RESEARCH, WE INTEND TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES AND HOW THEY COULD SUPPORT THE OBJECTIVES OF PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) STUDY HOW RETAILERS COMPETE IN INVENTORIES AND PRICES, AND HOW HOLDING HIGHER INVENTORIES PROMOTES GREATER SUPPLY-CHAIN RESILIENCE; (2) INVESTIGATE HOW GREATER CONCENTRATION AMONG FOOD RETAILERS MAY ALSO PROMOTE SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE, AS GREATER CONCENTRATION PROMOTES CLOSER INTERACTION BETWEEN FOOD SUPPLIERS AND RETAILERS AND STABLE OLIGOPOLYMARGINS SERVE AS A SHOCK ABSORBER THAT PREVENTS SUPPLY SHOCKS FROM REACHING CONSUMERS; (3) ESTIMATE THE COMPETITIVE IMPACT ON SALES OUTCOMES OF RETAIL PARTNERSHIPS WITH ONLINE GROCERY DELIVERY PLATFORMS AND DRAW COMPETITIVE IMPLICATIONS REGARDING RETAILERS' RELIANCE ON THESE PLATFORMS (AS OPPOSED TO THEIR OWN INTERNAL RESOURCES) TO FACILITATE FOOD DISTRIBUTION; (4) EXAMINE THE IMPACT ON COMPETITION, AS REFLECTED IN PRICES AND PROFITABILITY, CAUSED BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL RELATIONSHIP ASYMMETRY AMONG RIVAL FOOD SUPPLIERS; AND (5) SYNTHESIZE OUR RESULTS TO DEVELOP A SET OF SOLUTIONS. OUR RESEARCH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THEORETICAL, METHODOLOGICAL, AND EMPIRICAL LITERATURES ON FOOD DISTRIBUTION, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, RETAIL MARKETS, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AND PRICING OUTCOMES.