K Group to Transform Grocery Operations with RELEX

Leading Finnish retailer to implement RELEX AI-driven platform to unify forecasting and replenishment across stores and DCs

K Group, one of the largest retail operators in Northern Europe, will expand its use of RELEX Solutions to optimize forecasting and replenishment across its Grocery Trade division, covering grocery, non-food, and wholesale operations. 

K Group has used RELEX forecasting and replenishment capabilities in its building and technical trade since 2008 and car trade since 2025. As one of RELEX’s earliest and longest-standing customers, K Group will now replace its current forecasting and replenishment system with the RELEX unified planning platform to drive greater automation, visibility, and efficiency across its distribution centers, cash & carries and stores.

The expansion covers K Group’s grocery, non-food, and wholesale business (Kespro), a network of 1,100 stores, 13 cash & carries and several distribution centers. By implementing the full scope of RELEX forecasting and replenishment capabilities, including advanced replenishment, capacity and purchase optimization, fresh and seasonal planning, and RELEX Diagnostics, K Group will improve forecast accuracy, reduce manual effort, and optimize product flows across its omnichannel operations. 

“Our collaboration with RELEX goes back more than 15 years and expanding forecasting and planning to our Grocery Trade division is a natural next step,” said Pekka Valkearanta, CIO (Interim) of Kesko. “Our business needs more speed and flexibility, which current system no longer meets. The proven capabilities of RELEX across our other divisions, combined with the platform’s technical depth and AI-driven approach to real-time decision-making, made this the right solution to support both our operational efficiency and customer satisfaction goals.” 

“K Group is a valued, long-term customer, and we’re proud to support this next chapter in their transformation,” said Jason Berry, SVP, EMEA at RELEX Solutions. “Our AI-native platform offers the technical and functional depth needed to manage one of the most complex grocery environments in Europe, combining advanced forecasting, integrated supply, and fresh optimization to deliver measurable value for K Group and its customers.”