United Natural Foods Inc. has partnered with Relex Solutions, a retail optimization solutions provider, to implement its cloud-based procurement solution. When delivered, the system will consolidate and replace multiple UNFI buying systems and drive efficiencies in demand planning and replenishment.
The partnership with Relex aligns with UNFI’s supply chain capability transformation and is intended to deliver an enhanced customer experience while enabling customer growth by leveraging operational efficiencies, according to the distributor.
“As part of UNFI’s multi-faceted transformation agenda, we’re continuing to implement cutting-edge technology to improve the customer and supplier experience, while increasing operating efficiency,” said Erin Horvath, chief operating officer at UNFI, in a statement. “RELEX offers a robust, reliable solution that maximizes UNFI’s capabilities, helps automate our network, and optimizes our procurement processes, ensuring the freshness of our products and quality of service to our customers.”
RELEX is expected to provide improved demand planning, ordering, and inventory management capabilities, giving UNFI a holistic view of operations, including future capacity and supply constraints, and streamlining its planning processes. The platform will help optimize inventory across all UNFI categories, including UNFI Fresh, reducing spoilage, improving service levels, and increasing data visibility between UNFI’s suppliers and customers, said UNFI.
“RELEX is thrilled to be working with UNFI, as ensuring high service levels across all products, including fresh, is close to both of our hearts,” said Frank Lord, chief revenue officer at Relex, in a statement. “We look forward to helping UNFI boost visibility across their supply chain so that they can hone the processes that work for them, their suppliers, and their customers.”
The new platform is expected to become operational over the next 12 to 18 months.
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