Heinen’s Expands Merchandising, Supply Chain Platform

Heinen’s Fine Foods has enhanced its replenishment functions by expanding its deployment of Symphony EYC solutions to lower inventory, improve warehouse turns, eliminate holiday over-stocks and reduce labor costs with better planning and visibility across its operations.

The Cleveland, Ohio-based grocer deployed the Demand and Promotional Forecasting and Warehouse Replenishment Optimization components of its Symphony EYC G.O.L.D. Supply Chain Platform.

“Enhancing our Symphony EYC G.O.L.D. platform ... was the logical next step for Heinen’s,” said Greg Sotka, director of category management/procurement at Heinen's Fine Foods. “The new business processes that are supported by G.O.L.D. are enabling Heinen’s to streamline inventory management and increase workforce efficiency. Having a single truth point of data for all merchandising, supply and operations allows Heinen’s to better understand and manage all points of its retail operations.”

Heinen’s, a third-generation, family-owned chain of neighborhood stores serving communities throughout Northeast Ohio, which recently expanded into the Chicago market, has deployed G.O.L.D. modules including Demand Forecasting and Warehouse Replenishment to better support its forecasting and purchasing workload. Since rolling out the new G.O.L.D. modules to its first warehouse, Heinen’s has experienced significant on-hand inventory reductions based on accurate forecasting for holiday and promotional demand and operational efficiencies throughout its retail operations.

Heinen’s has already implemented G.O.L.D. Master Data Management, Merchandising and Pricing, Order Management, Inventory Management, Store Replenishment, Direct Store Delivery and WMS to ensure better accuracy and control over its retail operations across all of its grocery stores and warehouses.

“With the phased delivery of Symphony EYC forecasting and replenishment capabilities, Heinen’s has been able to improve its fill rates and service levels on both every-day and promotional items, while reducing inventory and labor costs,” said Vince Beacom, president Americas at Symphony EYC. “As a result, Heinen’s is able to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty by making sure that the products customers want are on the store shelf and available for sale when and where they want to buy them.”