First Quench, the UK's largest drinks retailer, plans to reduce
inventory costs by implementing a merchandise management system.
The company - which owns Thresher Wine Shop, Victoria Wine, Bottoms
Up and Wine Rack - expects the system, from software supplier JDA,
will improve stock accounting accuracy. The first phase, for
completion by Christmas, involves the stock accounting application
from JDA, will improve centralised stock management.
"At the moment individual managers decide how much they will order,
other than on promotional lines," said Roger Acton, business change
and IT director at First Quench. "This leads to problems with
inventory as managers have no way of understanding the overall
stock situation."
The first phase of the system roll-out will give First Quench "far
better central control and improved visibility of stock usage",
said Acton.
Last September, when Nomura bought First Quench for £225m, Guy
Hands, head of Nomura's principal finance group, promised to invest
in technology.