Conad Nord Ovest Reduces Fresh Food Waste with the Support of RELEX

One of the largest Italian grocery cooperative streamlines DC replenishment and forecasting advancing sustainability and operational agility. 

Conad Nord Ovest, one of Italy’s largest grocery cooperatives, has achieved a 33% reduction in fresh food waste during the first quarter of 2025 after implementing the unified supply chain and retail planning solution from RELEX Solutions. Delivered in partnership with Sopra Steria Next, the project supports forecasting and replenishment for over 15,000 SKUs across general merchandise, frozen, and fresh categories managed in stock, spanning 17 distribution centers. 

The initiative is part of Conad Nord Ovest’s broader strategy to transform their supply chain into a strategic business driver, adopting agile, data-driven processes that support both efficiency and sustainability. Leveraging the forecasting and replenishment solution from RELEX, which includes fresh optimization and promotion forecasting, Conad Nord Ovest has gained greater supply chain visibility, reduced waste, and improved service levels across its 587-store network. 

The 33% reduction in food waste Conad Nord Ovest achieved demonstrates the measurable impact that AI-driven supply chain optimization can have on sustainability objectives while also improving operational efficiency and profitability.  

“Working with RELEX has given us the tools and visibility to make better decisions every day — decisions that not only significantly reduce waste but also help us deliver better service to our customers” said Mentore Giorgetti, Supply Chain Project Manager at Conad Nord Ovest. “Our constant pursuit of flexibility adds complexity, and the RELEX solution helps us manage it by making our processes more adaptable and responsive to changing needs. It has enabled us to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive control of our supply chain, with greater accuracy and accountability.” 

The implementation delivered significant operational improvements beyond waste reduction. Conad Nord Ovest enhanced forecast accuracy through machine learning capabilities, gained end-to-end visibility through an integrated platform, and improved promotional planning with better demand alignment. They also achieved greater cross-functional collaboration and transparency across teams, whilst making processes more flexible and adaptable to market shifts. 

“Our primary goal in working with clients is to create concrete and measurable business value by combining operational efficiency with the evolution of skills, approaches, and mindset,” said Emmanuele Gallo, Consulting Director at Sopra Steria Next. “Waste reduction is among the key objectives we track, and one of the most important KPIs in measuring impact, which is a clear example of how financial benefits can be achieved while also supporting sustainability targets. The entire journey is designed to foster a culture of continuous improvement, built on individual and collective accountability, driven by data and the power of collaboration.” 

“We’re proud to help retailers like Conad Nord Ovest reduce food waste and advance sustainability through smarter, data-driven planning,” said Tiina Kanninen, SVP Global Customer Success, RELEX Solutions. “This achievement shows how automation, advanced forecasting, and close collaboration can create supply chains that are efficient, adaptive, and environmentally responsible.”