Case Study: Next-Generation Space & Category Management Strategies For Progressive Grocers

In today's competitive environment, grocers and food retailers face a myriad of challenges including stiffer competition from mass-merchandise retailers, increased customer demand for specialty products, rapidly shifting consumer preferences in the face of economic hardship and the ever-present issues around inventory seasonality. According to a recent Gartner report, many retailers and their suppliers have looked to planning space and assortment at a more detailed level to better account for local consumer demand — for example, clustered assortments and storespecific planograms to achieve customer-centric plans1. Originally developed to help supermarkets improve sales, space and category management has evolved to a "must have" for grocers and food retailers; forward-looking companies that embrace advanced solutions can rise above competitors, grow market-share and improve customer satisfaction levels.

Next-generation space and category management strategies are more demand driven, integrating intelligent forecasting and consumer demand data. Forward-looking companies that embrace these advanced solutions can rise above competitors, grow marketshare and improve customer satisfaction levels.