Optimisation is the selection process of a best element with regards to criteria from some set of available alternatives. Because of its wide range of applications, it has received great interest from many researchers and practitioners. Exact algorithms and heuristic algorithms have been used to address a number of challenging real-world optimisation problems in recent years. Besides stochastic optimisation methods, deterministic methods (such as linear programming and integer programming) are powerful tools to solve continuous and discrete optimisation (combinatorial optimisation) problems.

There are many optimisation problems in the field of management science, which can be modelled and solved using stochastic and deterministic optimisation algorithms. Optimisation problems in retailing, logistics, and supply chain management (SCM) are, as a result of their inherent complexity, very suitable to employ stochastic computation and optimisation methods to solve some related problems in these fields. It is a challenging research subject in both optimisation and management science.

The aim of this Special Issue is to discuss recent advances in applications of optimisation methods for retailing, logistics, and supply chain management problems. We invite authors to contribute high quality research or review articles that demonstrate successful applications of optimisation and computational methodologies and approaches in these areas.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Optimisation theory and its applications in retailing, logistics, and SCM
• Algorithm development related to retailing, logistics, and SCM
• Applications of evolutionary computation in retailing, logistics, and SCM
• Strategic, tactical, or operational decisions for convenient stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets
• Product or goods combination optimisation in retailing
• Planning for production or manufacturing
• Planning for distribution
• Emergency supply chain management
• Global logistics management
• Cold chain or low-temperature SCM
• Collaboration and Integration of supply chain
• Resource allocation and management
• Inventory management
• Optimisation theory, algorithm development and their applications in management science