Case Studies

In the late 1990s, practically every major company in the world had to grapple with the so-called Y2K problem—the impact of the millennium change on computer systems. Some companies did very little while others used the occasion as an opportunity to execute a major overhaul of what had become antiquated systems. Associated Grocers of New England (AGNE) falls into the last category. [Read more]

 
A.S. Watson
Committed to a long-term strategy of growth, A.S. Watson looked well beyond its Hong Kong borders in order to expand at the turn of the millennium. The acquisition of several European health and beauty chains, as well as robust expansion across Asia, quickly transformed A.S. Watson from a regional retailer into one of the fastest-growing and largest global health and beauty retail groups worldwide. With over 8,000 outlets in 33 countries, A.S. Watson required a next-generation, multinational point-of-sale (POS) solution that could bring the operations of its multiple store formats – including drugstores, perfumeries, consumer electronics and supermarkets – under one umbrella. [Read more]

C&S Wholesale Grocers
The second largest grocery wholesaler in the United States wanted to automate receiving at its receiving docks. With 34 distribution centers scheduling more than 35,000 receiving appointments per month the company wanted to move from a manual, phone-based appointment system to a more automated online system. [Read more]

Capitol Centre
Capitol Centre has been open for business since 1983 and its owner, John Leemkuil, is a recipient of the National Grocers Association’s (N.G.A.) Spirit of America Award for providing leadership in community service and government relations on behalf of the independent retail/wholesale system. [Read more]

Over the past few years, Columbus Distributing, based in Hayward, CA, has made a number of acquisitions that have led to new customers and suppliers. But, despite its rapid growth, its employees are still expected to hold true to the mission established in 1917 by its parent company, the Columbus Salame Co.: to provide the freshest and highest quality foods possible, and to stand behind them with great pride. That was difficult with the disparate technology systems that it had in place. [Read more]

 

Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin Donuts Mid-Atlantic Distribution Center (MADC) is a self-distributing cooperative for the Dunkin’ Donuts franchise stores. In 1986, Dunkin’ Donuts MADC started in a 79,000 square foot warehouse in Thorofare, NJ. A few years later, they expanded into a 125,000 sq ft facility in nearby Swedesboro, NJ, but within five years, Dunkin’ Donuts MADS added the Baskin Robbins and TOGO brands. [Read more]

Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee, with more than 200 supermarkets, drugstores and fuel stores in the Midwest, expects to exceed $5 billion in annual sales and build on its place among the country’s largest grocery store chains. Reliable and efficient point of sale (POS) operations contribute to the excellent customer service and conveniences that have helped Hy-Vee grow. [Read more]

 

Life in Louisiana is often perceived as laid back and a bit slower-paced than other parts of the country. People there, as the thinking goes, enjoy an easy-going, relaxed approach to life.

And while that may be the case for most, one company, Imperial Trading Co., based in Elmwood, LA, turns that stereotype on end. [Read more]

Lunds Food Holdings, Inc
Lunds Food Holdings, Inc. (LFHI), a Minnesota-based grocery chain operating 20 stores, replaced their legacy BASS CIX system with Retalix HQ because the existing solution lacked sufficient flexibility and customization capabilities to meet ongoing business requirements. [Read more]

Jake’s Finer Foods
In the late 1970s, no one dreamed of carrying a computer. While systems filled enormous, air-conditioned rooms, computing solutions were not available for every business need. When Jake’s Finer Foods, based in Houston, TX, began investigating how to computerize its paper-laden operation, there wasn’t much that met the requirements of the family-owned, foodservice distributor. [Read more]

George Griffin and W.J. Chestnutt founded Laurel Grocery Co. LLC in 1922. Today, third-generation family members still run the London, KY-based food distributorship that prides itself on being the alternative full-line grocery wholesaler of choice for independent retailers that want the advantages of a large wholesaler and the personal touch and flexibility of a family owned company. It is not interested in serving large, company owned chain stores. [Read more]

 

Market Basket
When Hurricane Rita swept across the Texas/Louisiana border last fall, it directly hit all 31 Nederland, Texas-based Market Basket Food Stores. The stores went without electricity for weeks, and all scanned inventory was lost. [Read more]

Market Basket
In 2003, Market Basket Food Stores rolled out a new inventory management system. Two years later, after Hurricane Rita stormed into the Gulf Coast, closing all 32 stores based in Texas and Louisiana, Market Basket chose to redeploy the same inventory management system – Realizing the value of Retalix DemandAnalytX (DAX) a second time. [Read more]

Merchant’s Grocery

When you’re a full-line wholesale distributor of food, candy, tobacco, beverages, general merchandise, novelties and health/beauty care items serving more than 2,000 small retail and foodservice accounts in rural Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, customer service is the lifeblood of your company. [Read more]

 

Quick Chek
Throughout its 40-year history; Quick Chek has grown by improving convenience for customers. After becoming a leading New Jersey convenience store chain with more than 100 locations, the privately owned company sought new avenues to grow. Quick Check expanded into fuel and quick service restaurant operations, which challenged its processes to maintain the level of convenience customers expect. [Read more]

Ritz Food Service

Once upon a time, being a successful foodservice distributor in California meant competing against small independents. Times have changed. Today, the diverse group of competitors includes national distributors, large independent distributors and several specialty distributors for produce, meats, seafood and restaurant equipment. [Read more]

 

Super S Foods
Super S Foods, a San Antonio-based grocery chain, has implemented Category Analyzer to provide comprehensive sales and profitability analysis across their 50 locations. Headquarters and store operations staff can access a deeper level of information, which has resulted in increased sales and gross profits. A longtime user of Retalix’s store and headquarters pricing and inventory management solutions, Super S Foods is operated by Mass Marketing, Inc., and serves hometown communities in South and Central Texas. [Read more]

Super S Foods - Following the Pricing Learning Curve: One Retailer’s Experience - Last year, Retalix announced a new solution and partnership around pricing – one involving Retalix’s price execution, KSS’s price optimization, and Willard Bishop Consulting’s accelerated strategy program designed especially to help mid-size retailers get a pricing strategy off the ground. A year later at Retalix’s User Conference, one of the first retailers to take on the solution, Super S Foods, provided an update on where they’ve been and where they’re headed as they make their way along the pricing learning curve. [Read more]

Tesco
Through a process of continued, strategic innovation, Tesco has become one of the world’s most profitable retailers. Today, Tesco operates more than 2,700 outlets, including grocery, general merchandise, fuel and convenience stores, in 13 countries, and continues to grow, soon ton include North America. At fast-moving and fast-changing Tesco, there are two constants: innovation and reliance on Retalix point-of-sale (POS) systems to provide a top-notch customer experience. [Read more]

 

“Out with the old and in with the new!” That old adage certainly describes the scenario that the

computer and the Internet have created in American industry over the last decade. Most often, the relentless change has enabled companies to speed up the way they conduct business. But speed alone is not a quick ticket to the next level of efficiency and effectiveness. Sometimes adding “intelligence” is more important. [Read more]

 

Yancey’s Food Service Co. Inc. had, for many years, been running its operations from a 42,500-square-foot warehouse in Fort Collins, CO, and had remote storage at three other smaller facilities. For an operation that ships more than 4,000 SKUs to 1,500 franchised and independent restaurant and small groceries throughout Colorado, western Nebraska and southern Wyoming, to say that it needed more space would have been an understatement. [Read more]

 

Reaching a significant milestone—by more than doubling sales in two years—should bring a respite from new challenges, a chance to relax and savor the moment. However attractive that might sound, it’s not the attitude that characterizes a successful business. There is never time to rest on your laurels. [Read more]