The Co-operative Food has completed a major transformation of its store replenishment system to improve customer service through increased stock availability, winning an award in the process.
The store merchandising and replenishment transformation software (SMART) has increased product availability in store to more than 97.5 per cent, the company reported, helping to drive sales and reduce stock holding and waste.
The programme represents an investment for the retailer of £12.5 million and means that seasonal variations, promotions, weather forecasts, and local and national events can now also be taken into account.
Sean Toal, chief operating officer and acting chief executive at The Co-operative Food, said: “Customer focus has been the driving force behind the SMART programme, and it will be our customers who will ultimately benefit the most, through better ranges and better product availability in our entire food store network. SMART is a world-class retail infrastructure, which could boost sales by more than £1 million a month. It also enables food store teams to focus on their customers by vastly reducing the time they spend on stock management.”
And the group’s investment has been rewarded with the Investigo Project Implementation of the Year award at the BT Retail Week Technology Awards.