Afresh Technologies has launched its first solution for distribution centers, Afresh DC Forecasts, with Albertsons Cos. as its first customer to test the product.
The new AI-powered DC Forecasts offer the first fresh-specific technology solution for DC buyers that automatically compiles the data the buyers must consider every day to forecast upcoming orders from the stores they serve.
Albertsons Cos. is rolling out DC Forecasts across produce, meat, seafood, deli and food service for 17 distribution centers. The launch of DC Forecasts marks Afresh’s first expansion beyond grocery stores as the company continues to revolutionize forecasting, ordering and inventory management for the fresh food supply chain.
Afresh DC Forecasts help grocers maximize product freshness by driving accuracy and efficiency in the forecasting process. DC Forecasts consider a range of demand drivers that are critical in fresh, like promotions, store displays, seasonal trends and holidays.
Typically, DC buyers spend hours per week synthesizing multiple data sources and manually calculating forecasts. Afresh DC Forecasts automate this process and provide DC buyers with daily forecasts for each item they manage, updated every day. These new DC Forecasts can be reviewed by buyers in a cloud-based web app alongside helpful context like promotions and store displays, and the forecast data can be directly integrated into current business systems.
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“With our new DC Forecasts, we’re streamlining fresh insights across the supply chain,” said Matt Schwartz, CEO of Afresh. “In developing this, we worked directly with our partners at Albertsons Cos. to develop a centralized data feed that meets pressing needs at the DC: saving buyers time while increasing service levels to stores.”
DC buyers are consistently updating forecasts, sometimes for hundreds of items each day. When forecasting goes wrong at the DC level, the effects ripple through to stores. Excess supply results in food that’s past its peak freshness, while shortages in supply lead to empty shelves and lost sales. The amount of time buyers save using Afresh DC Forecasts means they’ll have more time to focus on other critical and strategic tasks such as addressing inventory issues and planning long-term buys.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Afresh to further improve planning in our essential fresh departments,” said Amanda Martinez, GVP of national replenishment and planning at Albertsons Cos. “Following several months of testing, this new DC solution has already increased visibility and accuracy for daily forecasts across our fresh products.”
Since 2022, Albertsons Cos. has partnered with Afresh to offer a more efficient in-store fresh product ordering process. This enhancement has led to improved inventory conditions across the company’s stores, including Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Vons and ACME. In 2023, Afresh expanded its services beyond produce to include other key fresh departments at Albertsons Cos. stores such as meat, seafood, deli and prepared foods.
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