CHICAGO and ORLANDO, Fla., March 4, 2008 – Information Resources Inc. (IRI) today announced an extension of its current Costco Collaborative Retail Exchange™ (CRX) program, providing real-time scan and inventory data from more than 70 Costco warehouses across Canada. The expansion of the innovative tracking service builds on the roster of approximately 350 U.S. warehouses IRI currently monitors as part of its relationship with Costco.
The Costco CRX service is a scanner-based point-of-sale (POS) tracking system that delivers exclusive and accurate sales and inventory data to assist manufacturers and vendors in improving their overall item management and retail execution in Costco facilities, including item performance, inventory control, and promotion performance analysis.
“The CRX program offers our vendor community standard, secure access to the most current and detailed information about their business at Costco Wholesale,” said Costco Executive Vice President Ed Maron. “Through this service, IRI has demonstrated both the value of their innovative technology and their industry expertise by transforming our POS information into actionable business insights for our partners. We look forward to the continuation of these positive results as we expand the service into Canada.”
The CRX program will provide vendors doing business with Costco in Canada real-time, direct, and interactive sales and inventory movement information at the national, regional, provincial, and warehouse level. Unique benefits include:
- Release of data for every warehouse, everyday for each item purchased
- Dollar and unit sales with corresponding inventory measures
“The bottom line is that the CRX program strengthens the overall communication between Costco and its trading partners,” said President of IRI Consulting and Innovation Thom Blischok. “The knowledge they are able to share at the speed and the level of accuracy that our technology provides is a winning combination. We are happy to be a part of Costco’s success and continue our work with them in the Canadian market.”
About Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale is the largest wholesale club operator in the U.S. The company operates 520+ membership warehouse serving 50+ million cardholders in 37 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and the UK, primarily under the Costco Wholesale name. The Company also operates Costco Online, a U.S. electronic commerce web site, at www.costco.com. The company plans to add up to 35 new outlets in the U.S. and Canada by the end of its 2008 fiscal year.
About Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is the world’s leading global provider of consumer, shopper, and retail market intelligence and insights, empowering consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare companies to grow their business profitably in a complex marketplace. Driving breakthrough growth in the industries it serves, the company’s portfolio of services, solutions, and technology enable leading retailers and their suppliers around the globe to see what they are missing, act faster with greater confidence, and win at the shelf. Ninety-five percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 in CPG and retail leverage IRI to power their business. For more information, visit: www.infores.com.
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IRI CONTACTS:
John McIndoe
E-mail: john.mcindoe@infores.com
Phone: (312) 474-3862
Fax: (312) 474-2512
Shelley Hughes
E-mail: shelley.hughes@infores.com
Phone: (312) 474-3675
Fax: (312) 474-2512