Staff call up products via an image on the screen and print a selected number of barcoded labels with the date, price and product information for The Co-operative’s bagged Truly Irresistible and standard range of baked bread and pastries.
The trial of the new system resulted in a range of improvements. Costs and wastage were cut because pre-printed labels were no longer stored, produced and distributed from a central point.
The trial stores also saw an improvement in product availability as the system removed the need to preorder labels.
In addition, feedback from the trial stores showed staff welcomed the ease of use of the system while customer research reported a rise in perceptions of product quality and freshness.
The system is being rolled out to 150 stores and a further 350 will be adapted as part of the Group’s current two-year food store refit programme. As part of the programme, the bakery offering to customers is being enhanced under the “The Co-operative Bakery” brand, to include a wider range of breads, pastries and cakes.
Steve Bond, the Group’s Food IS Head of Solutions and Service said: “This labeling system is an excellent example of how departments within The Co-operative Group are able to work together very successfully on projects that bring about tangible results.
“What was seen as a simple IS development has enabled the business to enhance the customer experience of the brand in our food stores while making cost savings.”
Implementation of the in-store labelling system also marks a further success for the Group’s IT department.
Earlier this year, it launched a new night-time energy-saving programme for the Group’s 2,200 food stores, which automatically shuts down POS units overnight and powers them up before stores open the following morning.
The initiative was finalist for Green Project of the Year in the Techworld.com awards.
