A&P to Deploy Deal Management Software

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc., which operates 336 stores in seven Northeast and surrounding states, plans to deploy deal management software to boost deal efficiency and enhance its end-to-end promotion footprint.

The grocer is using San Mateo, Calif.-based DemandTec's Deal Management solution to streamline its deal and allowance management capabilities by converting the current paper-based approach into a collaborative, digital workflow across multiple divisions, formats, and store clusters. A&P will capture vendor-submitted deal information in a secure online setting, negotiate and manage each deal, establish control points for data accuracy, and store information for seven years, providing an electronic trail to help support regulatory compliance. The software service will be integrated with A&P's existing systems to leverage current automation for coupon, tag, and sign production as well as automated billing and invoice reconciliation.

"Through A&P's partnership with DemandTec, we expect to not only gain near-term benefits through a more streamlined, collaborative deal management workflow with our suppliers, but to also support a broader end-to-end promotion planning strategy that maps to our existing systems," said Tom O'Boyle, EVP merchandising, marketing, and supply chain at A&P.

Deal Management is a component service of DemandTec End to End Promotion Management, a solution that includes related software services for managing the entire promotion process, from collaborative promotion planning and deal management to in-store execution and post-event analysis. DemandTec is a network of shared solutions and services for more than 400 retailers and consumer products companies to transact, interact, and collaborate on core merchandising and marketing activities. During the last 12 months, a community of 16,000 active end-users on DemandTec collaborated on 1.2 million trade deals, according to DemandTec.