Spartan Taps KSS Retail for Strategic Advisory Services

Spartan Stores has tapped KSS Retail to provide strategic advisory services around price optimization, and the use of PriceStrat, the company’s proprietary decision support software solution.

KSS Retail’s consultants will work closely with Spartan Stores to holistically assess the retailer’s pricing practices, systems and processes and help the firm identify ways to improve its overall price and promotion strategies.

“Pricing is very strategic to us and we strive for continuous improvement in everyday pricing and promotions,” said Kathy Alles, director, retail pricing and data integration for Spartan Stores. “The benchmarking that KSS provides against other retail customers and the ability to make real-time changes in pricing will help us become more competitive."

In 2012, KSS Retail unveiled a tiered advisory service program to enhance its existing service platform, providing clients with specialized one-on-one, senior-level consultation and peer benchmarking. The goal is to help retailers better use the information in their pricing systems to achieve key performance objectives, such as improvements in revenue, profit, market share and brand perception.

“Through our highly personalized approach and decades of retail industry experience, Spartan Stores will be able to refine its pricing and promotion strategies so it can become even more shopper centric and strengthen its market position,” added Andy Kalamaras, SVP of sales and professional services for KSS Retail

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spartan Stores distributes more than 40,000 private and national brand products to approximately 375 independent grocery locations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and to the company's 101 corporate-owned stores in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, VG's Food and Pharmacy, and Valu Land.