Market News

Loblaw Bears Down on Technology

Predicting future consumer demand, Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is leading the charge on putting point-of-sale data to effective use. Loblaw has been using software for the past 18 months to forecast demand and drive replenishment at hundreds of its more than 1,000 stores. Up next is a plan to manage warehouse inventory and other corporate assets using the same data. Ideally, say company executives, the software will be able to account for seasonal changes and react to peaks and valleys in such a way that Loblaw could better ensure in-stock levels for its customers. The company is converting all of its stores from frame-relay communications to a DSL-based high-speed network. It is also working to upgrade its self-checkout software. In one store, the retailer is testing a new "two-handed" U-Scan system from Fujitsu that will allow two items to be scanned at once. Source: Canadian Grocer E-Newsletter, March 3rd. 2006.