ECR Ireland Supply Chain Workgroup

ECR Ireland provides a framework to deliver a better deal for consumers through more effective collaboration between retailers and suppliers. Bringing people together in this way facilitates the development of practical solutions that deliver meaningful change in demand side processes, supply chain management and business information.

Providing value for money is the job of the entire grocery supply chain. Grocery businesses are working more closely together to drive cost & risk out of the system and with commodity prices on the rise, disposable income waning, that is going to have to be a long term commitment. But, it is a long term challenge to find the best possible supply chain solution while also creating exciting and variable choices for customers. This is the key battleground – the fight for market share is tougher than before and excelling in areas such as product on-shelf availability and efficient sustainable distribution are vital.

ECR Ireland aspires to being the pace-setter for industry collaboration to drive performance improvement. This year, ECR will focus on delivering on the basics such as availability and sustainable distribution and publish what they consider to be the industry’s biggest supply chain challenges.

Purpose of the ECR Ireland Supply Chain Group 2012

• To be the foremost Grocery supply chain network in Ireland made up senior supply chain professionals from the leading retailers, suppliers, wholesalers and foodservice operators;
• To provide industry leadership on the biggest issues affecting the Irish supply chain;
• To develop practical techniques to improve supply chain management efficiency, sustainability and agility while driving customer service and lowering costs;
• To contribute and share ECR developments taking place throughout Europe;
• To provide opportunities for suppliers and retailers to network with each other;
• To sponsor the ECR workgroup projects and steer the outcomes for the industry;
• To provide a benchmark of on-shelf availability across the food & grocery industry.

Objectives of ECR Ireland Supply Chain Workgroup 2012

1. On Shelf Availability

Raising awareness of the problems and providing unique decision making tools to help companies make positive changes. From strategy to shop floor: transforming on-shelf availability. When the shopper discovers their item is unavailable, the brand loses more than a single purchase, it risks eroding longer-term customer loyalty. Keeping products ‘on-shelf’ remains a costly challenge for both retailers and manufacturers.

2. Inventory & Lead-time

With energy and other input costs rising by a third in the last five years, grocery margins are being squeezed and businesses are focusing even more on bottom line efficiency to protect and drive profitable growth. A focus on stock and lead time reduction without compromising availability is leading to new ways of working.

3. ECR Europe Optimal Shelf Availability Expert Group

Create a repository to share best practices and animate the community around OSA.Work on a common definition of OSA: “what is the right way to measure OSA?”.
Push the implementation of a syndicated measurement tool within countries throughout Europe.
Organise seminars to share best practices and accelerate the exchanges within the community.

4. Knowledge & Benchmarking

Present the industry’s biggest supply chain challenges
Benchmark the ECR Supply Chain Scorecard
Look into the future; identify the impact of the new technologies, the new comportment patterns, the logistics flows, etc. Be proactive to predict and prevent vs. reacting to a problem post the event.

5. Develop International Relationships

Identify meaningful ways for collaboration between Irish and UK companies and Best Practice Share Groups.

ECR Supply Chain Workgroup Meetings

Supply Chain Workgroup Quarterly Meetings

Wednesday 6th Feb - 08.30 – 10.30 @ ECR Ireland

Friday 7th June - 11.00 – 13.00 @ ECR Ireland

Wednesday 9th Oct - 10:30 - 12:30 @ Musgrave, Cork

Wednesday 4th Dec - 11:00 – 13:00 @ ECR Ireland

Supply Chain Summit

Wed 18th Sep

Who should attend?

Senior Supply Chain, Logistics and Operations executives from retailers, suppliers / manufacturers and 3rd party logistics providers will be welcome to join.
Participation is open to members of ECR Ireland. ECR non-members are most welcome to attend the inaugural meeting if desired.