METRO to Transform Fresh Food Supply Chain and Reduce Waste Worldwide with RELEX

Global food wholesaler selects RELEX forecasting and replenishment to improve availability, accuracy, and sustainability across ultra-fresh categories

METRO has selected RELEX Solutions to enhance its forecasting and replenishment capabilities as part of the wholesaler’s Ultra Fresh initiative, aimed at improving product freshness, reducing waste, and streamlining operations across 540 stores and 70 distribution centers (DCs). This program will see METRO and RELEX work alongside Accenture to pair the company’s delivery, advisory, and industry experience, with RELEX’s AI-driven technology.

METRO is a leading international food wholesaler that serves hotels, restaurants, caterers, and independent merchants. They support their customers through a multi-channel model, through large local wholesale stores or order via delivery through its food service distribution network. METRO’s Ultra Fresh initiative will unify replenishment processes across fresh categories and regions, creating a consistent, data-driven planning model that ensures fresher products, better availability and less waste.  

Through the collaboration with RELEX and Accenture, METRO will increase forecast accuracy and automate replenishment decisions, reducing inventory carrying costs, and manual workloads. The system will also help align demand, shelf life, and delivery timing, for faster, more responsive stock flow and better availability for wholesale customers. By AI-driven automation and real-time visibility, METRO will improve both sustainability and operational precision across its fresh food network. 

“Ultra-fresh categories require accuracy, speed, and collaboration across the supply chain,” said Alexander Stepannikov, Head of Supplier Collaboration & Ultra-fresh Ordering, METRO AG. Working with RELEX gives us the visibility and flexibility to make smarter daily decisions, improving freshness and reducing waste so we can serve customers with confidence.” 

“METRO is setting a benchmark for fresh food supply chain excellence,” said Michael Hoffmann, SVP DACH, RELEX Solutions. “With RELEX forecasting and replenishment, they’ll gain greater visibility, precision, and sustainability to reduce waste, improve freshness, and lower operational effort across their network.” 

“METRO is taking a bold step forward in reinventing its fresh food supply chain through using technology, data and AI to improve forecast accuracy and inventory management,” said Jill Standish, Accenture’s global Retail lead. “Together with RELEX, we are helping METRO increase operational agility and responsiveness, reduce waste and create a strong foundation for future growth—setting a new standard for how the fresh food industry can better serve customers.”