M&S Food is continuing to modernise its supply chain with the hiring of RELEX Solutions to roll out systems that aim to improve the retailer’s forecasting, ordering, and allocation processes.
The implementation began in March for M&S’s 1,050 food stores and 13 distribution centres in the UK and Ireland. The retailer is set to benefit from RELEX’s AI-driven tools for forecasting, fresh optimization, store and DC ordering, allocations, and capacity and delivery flow smoothing. The solution will also bring awareness of store shelf space into supply chain planning.
Modernising its food supply chain is a key part of M&S’s transformation programme. The company sought a solution to improve forecasting accuracy, remove manual interventions for tasks such as weather forecasting or planning promotions, and ultimately unify its end-to-end supply chain. The new systems are expected to improve efficiency and visibility throughout the supply chain and maximise sales whilst reducing food waste.
“RELEX’s ability to quickly deliver insight and accuracy across forecasting, ordering, and allocation within a single platform will significantly increase the efficiency of our day-to-day business operation,” said George Wright, Commercial Director at Marks & Spencer Food.
“RELEX is an important part of our vision of modernising the end-to-end supply chain. We very much look forward to achieving exceptional results as a result of this project.”
Mikko Kärkkäinen, CEO & co-founder at RELEX Solutions, added: “RELEX will rapidly help to improve efficiency throughout the end-to-end supply chain, and the end result will be improved product availability and reduced waste. This is the start of an exciting partnership that will enable M&S Food to run the most advanced fresh supply chain within the UK grocery market.”
NAM Implication:
- Ready for the inevitable tightening of availability conditions arising?
