“More than ever, retailers need to really understand the shopping behaviors and preferences of their local customers – and to adapt when they change,” says Rhonda Stinson, executive director and category management practice lead at Plantensive.
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) February 01, 2023
Plantensive, a MorganFranklin Consulting company, will facilitate a major technology transition and modernization by privately-held Giant Eagle. The effort aims to improve customer experience through strategic category management technology for its 216 supermarkets and 274 GetGo convenience stores in vital heartland states throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.
Category management is a retail industry concept that has gained importance in recent years, especially amid dramatic shifts in shopping behaviors since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
“More than ever, retailers need to really understand the shopping behaviors and preferences of their local customers – and to adapt when they change,” says Rhonda Stinson, executive director and category management practice lead at Plantensive. “While many stores struggle to access a variety of siloed data, Giant Eagle, by bringing information into a single source of truth, is transforming its ability to give customers what they need,” Stinson says.
The approach will equip the retailer to make informed decisions about which products are placed where within their stores – knowing precisely what customers want, and where and how they want to get it.
Plantensive will help move Giant Eagle to the Blue Yonder Category Management suite. The new system brings powerful new capabilities, including spatially analyzing macro and micro space and tracking product allocation at the store (and even shelf-space) level. This drives efficiency and ensures products align optimally with the individual needs of each store’s customers.
The new system enables more effective collaboration between store managers, supply chain managers and merchandising leaders to better meet customer needs.
“Plantensive joined Giant Eagle as an experienced Blue Yonder category management partner which was critical for us in this implementation,” said Giant Eagle VP of Merchandising Planning, Operations & Analytics Scott McNeely. “We are looking forward to our improved guest experience and increased collaboration with the updated solution as our teams continue partnering to accelerate our category management initiatives.”
“While exact performance figures can vary, in our experience, retailers begin to see increased margins within the first year of implementation,” Stinson says.
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About Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among the top 40 on Forbes magazine’s largest private corporations list, is one of the nation’s largest food retailers and distributors with approximately $11 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be a leading food, fuel and pharmacy retailer in the region with more than 490 stores throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.
About Plantensive
Plantensive, a MorganFranklin company, is a supply chain and retail planning solutions provider to many of the fortune 500 and mid-market companies across the consumer packaged goods, distribution, manufacturing and retail industries. Plantensive provides end-to-end supply chain solutions and proven tools to accelerate value by building, implementing, and optimizing dynamic, reliable supply chain solutions aligned with business strategies. For more information visit: http://www.morganfranklin.com.
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Brittney Kowalski
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Berry Brady
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