Co-Operative Group To Invest In Department Store Technology

The Co-operative Group has begun work to install new retail technology across its department store network, in a move designed to increase efficiency and sales performance...

In a £1million deal announced today (Friday 1 July), the Group has commissioned Torex Retail to install a new computer system at 10 outlets. The deal includes Torex Retail's leading Java-based store management
solution Lucas and merchandise management solution Retail Star, to integrate EpoS, stock, purchasing and promotional data for more effective and cohesive management information.

The first outlets chosen for the installation of the Torex Retail Smart Retail system include the Group's two new concept Home Stores in Perth and Tunbridge Wells. Other locations are Dartford, Mansfield, Paisley,
Brighton, Sittingbourne, Bletchley, Alloa and Skegness. The work is due for completion by the end of the year.

The second phase of the project will see the roll-out of the system to further outlets in the Group's department store network, as well as full integration of the system with its distribution facility at Bromborough, Cheshire. This work is scheduled for the first half of 2006.

Mark Hale, Head of Information Systems and Business Change for the Group's Specialist Retail division, will oversee the project. He commented: "This investment is the first stage in providing our stores with cutting edge technology which will provide a step change in the quality of management information and allow them to compete more effectively.

"We're pleased to be working with Torex Retail, which has already delivered projects for the Co-operative Group and has both the expertise and products to meet our needs."

Mark Sprigg, Group Commercial Director for Torex Retail UK and Ireland, commented: "We're delighted the Group has chosen us for this important project. This order solidifies Lucas' position as the industry's leading
store management software. As one of our strategic solutions, it is ideal for helping forward-thinking retailers, like the Co-operative Group, to integrate processes more effectively and bring significant efficiency gains to the business. It is further proof of the confidence that leading retailers have in our technology."