Conad Nord Ovest Expands Collaboration with RELEX to Optimize Store-Level Promotional Forecasting 

The cooperative is extending the use of RELEX to its network of 587 stores for the management of member pre-order promotions 

Conad Nord Ovest, one of Italy’s largest grocery cooperatives, has expanded its collaboration with RELEX Solutions. Following the results achieved through the optimization of distribution center (DC) replenishment, which led to significant improvements across several KPIs, Conad Nord Ovest has decided to extend the use of the platform. DC replenishment had seen Conad Nord Ovest achieve a reduction in stockouts, better balance of inventory levels and working capital, reduced waste in fresh products managed in stock, and increased sales from distribution centers to stores. 

The cooperative will now implement the promotion forecasting functionality for member pre-order promotions, a further step toward increasingly efficient and integrated planning across the entire supply chain. The solution will be implemented in partnership with RELEX partner, Sopra Steria Next, who brings deep expertise in retail processes, integration and change management. 

Conad Nord Ovest operates across several Italian regions including Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Liguria, Mantua province, Emilia, Tuscany, Lazio, and Sardinia. Through their 359-member entrepreneurs, they manage approximately 10,000 SKUs across its network of 587 stores and 17 distribution centers. Historically, promotional forecasting relied heavily on static data and manual store input, creating inefficiencies. 

“The choice of RELEX as the platform to support our Supply Chain processes, particularly those related to purchase planning was driven by the need for a flexible tool, capable of adapting to our requirements, scalable enough to cover the various areas of the Supply Chain, and cutting-edge in the use of machine learning techniques to achieve increasingly accurate forecasts. In RELEX, we found the perfect combination of these qualities,” said Marcello Lorenzini, Innovation and Information Systems Director at Conad Nord Ovest. 

With the ability to handle the complexity of dynamic demand, Conad Nord Ovest will be able to quickly respond to changing market conditions, promotional intensity, and local customer behavior. It will also empower member stores with accurate, data-driven recommendations, supporting local decision-making whilst maintaining consistency across their network. By providing tailored insights directly to member stores, Conad Nord Ovest can increase responsiveness, reduce overstocks and shortages, and improve shelf-level promotional execution. 

A distinctive aspect of the project is the intention to combine technological innovation with human contribution, enhancing the experience of the members and the local characteristics that have always defined the cooperative. The integration between advanced tools and local expertise will make it possible to achieve concrete and sustainable results throughout the entire supply chain. 

“The experience gained in managing distribution centers replenishment project with tangible results such as waste reduction and improved service levels now allows us to extend this approach to Conad stores as well. It’s a step that strengthens our commitment to generating real value throughout the entire supply chain, focusing on the ability to turn data into effective and sustainable decisions,” said Emmanuele Gallo, Consulting Director at Sopra Steria Next. 

We are proud to support Conad Nord Ovest as they continue their journey toward smarter, more sustainable retail planning,” said Jason Berry, Senior Vice President, EMEA, RELEX Solutions. “Promotions are a critical driver of customer engagement and sales, but they also bring complexity to inventory management. This next phase demonstrates their trust in RELEX whilst reflecting their strong commitment to localized execution and continuous innovation.