Are Woolworths Limited and Wesfarmers Ltd at risk from online disruption?

Woolworths Limited (ASX:WOW) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX:WES) are aware of the risks of online competitors and have a first mover advantage.

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It might be sad but it's true – you don't see many book stores any more. Twenty years ago it might have just been an idea, but today Amazon Inc. has turned the book retailing industry on its head, resulting in significant structural change and major disruption for incumbent operators.

Could supermarkets be headed the same way?

An article published in The Australian Financial Review on Tuesday titled, Little guys take on Woolies and Coles, explored the success of various online grocery retailers and concluded that so far they are having "varying degrees of success".

For major supermarket retailers including Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW), Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS), and Coles which is owned by Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), the threats are real even if they are yet to come to fruition. The threat of online-only entrants, coupled with the increasing demand by customers for online shopping and home delivery is certainly why Woolies and Coles have been investing significant capital in establishing an online shopping capability and delivery service.

Who the winners will be?

It's hard to say at this stage, however unlike other industries such as newspapers where firms such as Fairfax Media Limited (ASX: FXJ) waited until it was too late to adjust to structural changes brought about by the internet, the supermarket retailers appear to have observed the lesson. They have been early adopters of technology which should have them well placed to weather future structural changes.

Who else could win?

Another beneficiary of the move online could be Toll Holdings Limited (ASX: TOL). The company has a strong position in domestic freight and logistics and could be a natural choice for disruptive online entrants looking for a delivery partner.

Motley Fool contributor Tim McArthur does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article.

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