Group purchasing refers to the practice whereby several buyers or distributors join forces to select suppliers and collectively negotiate purchasing terms. By pooling their volumes, they obtain more advantageous prices. This grouping can take the form of a purchasing group or a cooperative. Although group purchasing initiatives for consumers emerged on the internet in the early 2000s, their economic effectiveness remains limited. The model experienced a resurgence in 2010, particularly for negotiating preferential rates in sectors such as gas.