From the Show Floor: NRF Retailer Activity Spans Supply Chain

Despite the tough economy, retailers are still investing in technology -- particularly in those solutions that help to streamline operations and gain efficiencies -- as was demonstrated at the National Retail Federation show held in New York this week.

Here are some of the announcements from the Expo floor:

Wal-Mart taps Agentrics to support private label development:

Walmart Stores, Inc. plans to use the Agentrics product lifecycle management (PLM) platform to support the collaborative development of its private brand products, beginning with its Great Value line.

Agentrics PLM features a Web-based, collaborative, end-to-end work process, database, and production environment designed to drive speed, innovation, and consistency across the product lifecycle. Agentrics has rebranded the Walmart system, which is now referred to as "Walmart ASPECT" across the retailer's network.

The system also includes features for rapidly identifying ingredient and supplier information and tracking audit details to support critical food safety needs. The system will integrate content from the forthcoming food safety management system that Agentrics is co-developing for the Food Marketing Institute "Safe Quality Foods" program.

Associated Food Stores to Deploy Price and Promotion Optimization Solution:
Associated Food Stores (AFS), an independent retailer-owned warehouse that services nearly 500 grocers in eight western states, will implement the KSS Retail price-modeling and optimization suite to model, refine and optimize pricing and promotions to drive value for the consumers of their member stores.

"Our goal is to leverage the best solutions available to provide the right guidance to our retailers, ensuring that they are able to deliver the utmost value for their customers," said Brian Duff, s.v.p. at Associated.

Sunflower Farmers Markets Deploying Retalix Replenishment Software:
Sunflower Farmers Markets, a Phoenix, Arizona-based independent grocer specializing in value-priced natural and organic products, is deploying Retalix DemandAnalytX (DAX) across its 20-stores in an effort to optimize inventory levels, increase product availability and reduce spoilage.

DAX is a browser-based, demand-forecasting and computer-generated-ordering (CGO) solution that uses unique algorithms to interpret POS sales and inventory data, forecast store-level demand and optimize replenishment orders, for both supermarket and convenience store formats.

"Our brand image and unique identity are based on offering fresh, high-quality natural and organic foods to the value-conscious consumer," said Chris Sherrell, c.o.o. of Sunflower. "Retalix DemandAnalytX will help us forecast consumer demand across a range of our offerings, while supporting our commitment to freshness and quality."

Stay tuned for more NRF coverage in upcoming reports.
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