The industries discussed in the supplement range from consumer product strategy problems to logistics and grocery. This report is the original and landmark document on the ECR initiative. It identifies major opportunities for cost reduction within the supply chain. As they achieve success, those efforts will make consumer products value chains more responsive in increasingly competitive, consumption-constrained economics the world over. This 128-page report is based on a survey of grocery industry suppliers and distributors conducted in late 1997 and early 1998 by KSA on behalf of the Joint Industry Project on Efficient Consumer Response.
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Consumers are demanding conveniently presented and fresher foods in greater variety and higher quality. This is breaking the dairy and fresh foods sector into more and smaller niches. Servicing these niches requires much greater precision than can be obtained through traditional approaches to food sector supply chain management. This article discusses Parmalat, the Italian dairy products giant, who is taking the lead in an EU initiative and exploring new ways of implementing ECR concepts in the fresh foods sector. Conquering the Maze Promotions could not be addressed as part of the ECR effort, but the financial considerations for manufacturers are so compelling, the issue of promotional efficiency is not likely to drop.