Global Sourcing: Tesco Expands Sourcing Operations With Eqos

Eqos Ltd., provider of on-demand PLM, global sourcing, and supplier management solutions for the retail supply chain, recently announced that the Tesco international sourcing group has moved one step closer toward achieving a standard operating model using the Eqos solution. Based in the UK, Tesco has built its business in the grocery industry, but more recently has diversified into a wide range of non-food categories including clothing, consumer electronics, and household goods. As the world's third largest retailer, Tesco commands more than 30 percent of the UK grocery business and is expanding its store operations around the globe.

"We are pleased to announce that we have completed the rollout of Eqos sourcing for the UK based hardlines business and are now progressing with the apparel categories and other geographies," said Harm van Weezel, Tesco's commercial IT director. "Eqos is facilitating the on-boarding of new suppliers and improving collaboration among our sourcing offices and their suppliers; as a result, we have implemented better business practices and reduced the administrative load of managing our supplier community. In the end, we are better able to respond to customers and to the evolving demands of our rapidly growing network of retail operations and stores."

Eqos sourcing provides Tesco with full business process support for private label and branded merchandise from product design, through supplier negotiations, and contract. By providing critical path management and a single data repository, the solution is enabling standardized processes across all Tesco sourcing hubs, comprised of 11 international offices spanning 14 countries across the globe.

Additionally, Tescohas successfully rolled out the Eqos auditing and compliance moduleto maintain important product safety and ethical sourcing practices. "As Tesco continues its growth strategy, the focus remains on delivering quality products that our customers value," said Colin Hill, Tesco international sourcing operations director. "The Eqos solution enables us to schedule factory audits, streamline our reporting processes and manage our corrective action program. By using these systems we aim to reduce the costs associated with poor quality goods and should in the future be able to better meet the social responsibility goals that are such an important component of Tesco's overall corporate mission."

"Tesco thrives in the global retail marketplace because the company works hard to earn customers' loyalty as they simultaneously maintain excellent relationships with their suppliers," said Jane Biddle, Eqos chief marketing officer. "We're pleased to be working with Tesco to support its commitment to deliver value through its products, services, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Eqos' industry expertise and comprehensive support services help ensure that our long-term partnership will continue to support Tesco's tremendous growth, while also providing the company with a rapid return on its technology investment."

About Tesco
Founded in 1919, UK-based Tesco is the third largest retailer in the world today, operating stores in 12 markets outside the UK. With more than 3,400 stores across the globe, Tesco employs in excess of 450,000 people in its businesses around the world and aims to deliver a consistently strong customer offer on every visit and every transaction by focusing on the Group's core purpose: to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty. For more information, visit www.tesco.com.

About Eqos
Eqos is a leading provider of PLM, global sourcing, and supplier management solutions for the retail supply chain. Eqos on-demand software enables retailers to work collaboratively with trading partners to enhance product innovation, improve supplier performance, accelerate time-to-market, and ensure product quality and factory compliance. By layering over existing applications, Eqos facilitates cross-enterprise, streamlined collaborative processes between retailers, sourcing offices, agents, factories, suppliers, and third party service providers. The definitive solution for multi-category retail segments, including apparel, grocery and general merchandise segments, Eqos supports millions of transactions daily for 15,000 users, managing more than $50 billion in inventory for the world's largest, most recognized global retailers. Customers include Best Buy, Edcon, H-E-B, Sainsbury's and Tesco. Founded in 1997, the company has offices in Boston, London and Hong Kong. More information can be found at www.eqos.com.

SOURCE: Eqos Ltd.