NEW YORK, LONDON (Aug. 3, 2000) -- Executives involved in the
WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE) last week provided more than
200 suppliers with a glimpse of the technology that will soon
streamline the traditional retail supply chain.
Suppliers and retail executives from around the world met in
New York and London last week in the first-ever set of supplier
summits. The summits were intended to explain the thinking behind
the WWRE, and to discuss how the world's largest B2B exchange
will enhance the relationship between suppliers and retailers.
"The technology is now available to streamline the supply chain,"
said Linda Nordgren, director of supply chain management and B2B
commerce at Safeway Inc. "The retail industry is now ready to
embrace the challenge of creating standards and common business
processes to take costs out of the system."
Traditionally, communication between retailers and suppliers
has been elaborate, costly and inefficient. The WWRE will allow
retailers to move all of their supply chain processes online,
from order entry to delivery.
"The goal of the WWRE is to help simplify and expedite the exchange
of goods and services necessary to operate retail enterprises,"
said Target Corporation Chairman and CEO Bob Ulrich. "In doing
so, it will significantly reduce transaction costs for both buyers
and sellers, which will translate into better goods at lower prices
for consumers."
Patrick Steele, executive vice president of technology at Albertson's,
demonstrated a sample transaction using the WWRE Web site, which
is being developed and managed by an alliance of IBM, i2 and Ariba.
Steele ordered sample products over the site in about five minutesÑa
process that might normally take days.
"The concept behind the Exchange is not new," said Barry Knichel,
director of supply chain research and development at Tesco. "The
difference is that we can now deliver the initiatives and the
ideas that have been in the industry for years."
During the meeting, suppliers broke off into industry group sessions,
where they were encouraged to provide their feedback on the Exchange.
"It's really revolutionary," said Ralph Drayer, vice president
of efficient consumer response at Procter & Gamble. "The adoption
of standard business practices and Internet-based collaboration
to improve performance and efficiency will benefit everybody and,
most importantly, our consumers."
Some of the suppliers in attendance included General Mills, Levi
Strauss, Schering Plough, Compaq, Hormel Unilever, Liz Claiborne,
H.J. Heinz Co. Ltd., 3M, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Kellogg's, Sony,
Mattel, Cadbury Schweppes, Kraft Foods, Whirlpool UK Ltd. and
Bestfoods.
The WWRE (www.worldwideretailexchange.org)
is a Web-based business-to-business exchange designed to facilitate
and simplify trading between retailers and more than 100,000 suppliers,
partners and distributors. Consisting of leading retailers from
Asia, Europe and the United States, the WWRE is open to all suppliers
and retailers who wish to use it. The Exchange currently includes
members who have combined sales of nearly $454 billion (U.S.)
or 452 billion Euros.
Today, WWRE membership includes: Albertson's (U.S.), Auchan (France),
Best Buy (U.S.), Casino (France), CVS (U.S.), Dairy Farm International
(Hong Kong), Delhaize Group (Belgium), El Corte Ingles (Spain),
Gap Inc. (U.S.), J.C. Penney (U.S.), Jusco (Japan), Kingfisher
(U.K.), Kmart (U.S.), Marks & Spencer (U.K.), Rite Aid Corporation
(U.S.), Royal Ahold (The Netherlands), Safeway Inc. (U.S.), Safeway
plc (U.K.), Supervalu Inc. (U.S.), Target Corporation (U.S.),
Tesco (U.K.) and Walgreen Co. (U.S.).
Media Contacts:
Helen Craft (Europe)
Shandwick International
44.207.950.2871
hcraft@shandwick.com
Teresa McFarland (U.S.)
Shandwick International
952.346.6198
tmcfarla@shandwick.com
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