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This article studies formal optimal decision approaches for a multi‐period asset/liability management model for a pension fund. The authors use Conditional Value‐at‐Risk (CVaR) as a risk measure, the weighted average of the Value‐at‐Risk (VaR) and those losses exceeding VaR. The model is based on sample‐path simulation of the liabilities and returns of financial instruments in the portfolio. The same optimal decisions are made for groups of sample‐paths, which exhibit similar performance characteristics. Since allocation proportions are time‐dependent, these techniques are more flexible than more standard allocation procedures, e.g. “constant proportions.” Optimization is conducted using linear programming. Compared with traditional stochastic programming algorithms (for which the problem dimension increases exponentially in the number of time stages), this approach exhibits a linear growth of the dimension. Therefore, this approach allows the solution of problems with very large numbers of instruments and scenarios.

Perishable inventory management for the grocery sector has become more challenging with extended omnichannel activities and emerging consumer expectations. This paper aims to identify and formalize key performance measures of omnichannel perishable inventory management (OCPI) and explore the influence of operational and market-related factors on these measures.

The inductive approach of this research synthesizes three performance measures (product waste, lost sales and freshness) and four influencing factors (channel effect, demand variability, product perishability and shelf life visibility) for OCPI, through industry investigation, expert interviews and a systematic literature review. Treating OCPI as a complex adaptive system and considering its transaction costs, this paper formalizes the OCPI performance measures and their influencing factors in two statements and four propositions, which are then tested through numerical analysis with simulation.

Product waste, lost sales and freshness are identified as distinctive OCPI performance measures, which are influenced by product perishability, shelf life visibility, demand variability and channel effects. The OCPI sensitivity to those influencing factors is diverse, whereas those factors are found to moderate each other's effects.

To manage perishables more effectively, with less waste and lost sales for the business and fresher products for the consumer, omnichannel firms need to consider store and online channel requirements and strive to reduce demand variability, extend product shelf life and facilitate item-level shelf life visibility. While flexible logistics capacity and dynamic pricing can mitigate demand variability, the product shelf life extension needs modifications in product design, production, or storage conditions. OCPI executives can also increase the product shelf life visibility through advanced stock monitoring/tracking technologies (e.g. smart tags or more comprehensive barcodes), particularly for the online channel which demands fresher products.

This paper provides a novel theoretical view on perishables in omnichannel systems. It specifies the OCPI performance, beyond typical inventory policies for cost minimization, while discussing its sensitivity to operations and market factors.