Sobeys Chooses IRI as New Analytics Partner
Canadian grocery retailer Sobeys Inc. has entered into a long-term strategic relationship with data and analytics provider IRI.
Sobeys will use Chicago-based IRI’s Liquid Data technology and its Unify visualization platform to integrate and report transaction, loyalty card, promotional and other data sources through a single platform across all Sobeys’ retail food formats. Sobeys and its supplier partners will have web-based access to intuitive, flexible and fast insights in the new Sobeys Collaborative Gateway, specifically designed to drive actions and alerts to key collaborative business processes.
In addition, IRI’s regionally based client service teams will support suppliers’ data and insight analyses, plus Sobeys’ use of advanced price and promotion analytics to help further enhance marketing and merchandising activities.
“Sobeys is very pleased to work with IRI, an established and respected industry leader that can support our strategies to exceed customer expectations,” said Ray Hepworth, VP of category management optimization for Sobeys’ Centre of Excellence. “IRI’s tremendous experience and leadership position in regard to technology, advanced analytics, and training, and their superior client service commitment, are valuable resources as we continue to enhance our position as our shoppers’ preferred retailer.”
Piyush Chaudhari, president of the Americas for IRI, said his company’s relationship with Sobeys “represents our continued commitment to our clients’ growth and provides Sobeys with actionable insights and a higher level of engagement with its suppliers to inform their strategies and ultimately benefit their shoppers.”
IRI serves more than 5,000 clients worldwide with an in-demand, cloud-based technology platform, providing big data, predictive analytics and forward-looking insights.
Founded in 1907, Stellarton, Nova Scotia-based Sobeys owns or franchises some 1,500 stores in all 10 Canadian provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods and Lawton’s Drug Stores.
Topco-Symphony Alliance
Meanwhile, Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Topco Associates LLC has joined forces with software and services provider Symphony EYC on an aggregated solution to provide Topco member retailers with both insights and reports to help drive same-store sales.
Together, Topco and Palo Alto, Calif.-based Symphony EYC are able to deliver an aggregated set of customer data across multiple member retailers that can be shared with their CPG partners, allowing Topco members and their suppliers to design and run better programs that ultimately deliver higher sales. In addition, Topco will further leverage customer insights into its own-brand label business supporting member retailers.
Symphony EYC and Topco will provide members with access to segmentation solutions and innovative cloud-based category management capabilities. Additionally, Topco members are expected to benefit from increased sales due to better customer insights driving better plans; improved partnership and support from CPGs using the retailers’ customer data; ability to drive scale; and stronger private label offerings developed using customer insights.
“We view this partnership with Symphony EYC as another opportunity for our members to collaborate and achieve greater value,” said Randy Skoda, Topco president and CEO. “By collectively leveraging Symphony EYC’s customer-centric insights and reporting, we’re creating richer insights and helping Topco members better understand consumers and their buying decisions,”
Dr. Pallab Chatterjee, chairman and CEO of Symphony EYC, added, “Together, we will deliver scalable customer insights that will further strengthen the retailers and allow CPG partners to effectively leverage this valuable information to drive their results as well.”
Topco Associates LLC provides aggregation, innovation and knowledge management solutions for its leading food industry member-owners and customers, including grocery retailers, wholesalers and foodservice suppliers.