Joachim Pinhammer

Thalia is optimising its supply chain processes with Relex software. Its AI-based solutions for forecasting and replenishment are designed to improve availability of goods in stores and distribution centres. Capgemini is implementation partner for the project.

In the highly competitive POS software market, GK was able to significantly expand its market position and achieved second place behind market leader NCR Voyix. RBR Data Services’ study Global POS Software 2024 expects a growing demand for new solutions. However, more and more retail companies rely on proprietary solutions.

Baltic Petroleum has centralised and automated its assortment planning and replenishment on the Leafio AI Retail platform. The Lithuanian petrol station and convenience store operator was thus able to reduce overstocks, as well as out-of-stocks and increase sales.

Itab has announced to acquire its French competitor HMY for 320 million Euros. The two companies, which are roughly the same size and have different regional focuses, want to strengthen their market position internationally. The Retail Optimiser spoke to Klaus Schmid, SVP at Itab Group, about expectations for the move.

Albert Heijn has become the first Dutch supermarket operator to expand its customer app with a generative AI-powered assistant. The application, developed by the in-house tech team Gen AI Labs, answers frequently asked customer questions and offers tips on everything to do with the kitchen and household.

dm will deploy forecasting and replenishment software from Relex across Europe in future. Since the end of 2021, the drugstore operator has been planning product ranges and shelves store specifically with solutions from the Finnish technology provider.

Together with service provider Arvato, Douglas has put an automation solution from Knapp into operation at its new central warehouse in Hamm. After a 25-month implementation phase, the solution is set to largely automate order processing for the retailer’s stores and online business in the DACH region.

Under the name Amazon Grocery, the US online giant is piloting a store in Chicago that sells brand-name items, drinks and snacks at a Whole Foods market. The new C-store uses a range of self-service systems, but not the just-walk-out technology.

Hornbach is implementing AI-based forecasting and replenishment solutions from Relex across Europe. With the platform from the Finnish software provider, the DIY store operator is replacing SAP's F&R Engine.

Kaufland has taken its highly automated distribution centre in Geisenfeld fully into operation. It took more than three years to optimise the systems and to gradually put them into operation. The heart of the system is a picking solution from Vanderlande, which uses robotic arms to pick and push dry goods. Kaufland picks fruit and vegetables using a customer-specific development…