Allders plc Selects Retek 10
$800 Million U.K. Department Store Chain`s New RetekŪ Solutions to Support
Strategic Objectives
Minneapolis - APRIL 10, 2002 * Retek Inc. (NASDAQ: RETK), announced today
that Allders plc selected Retek solutions for advanced retail planning and
optimization, merchandising operations management and supply chain
management. This key investment will replace legacy systems with Retek 10,
an integrated, modular retail solution, and support Allders` goals for
sustainable business growth and profitability.
Allders, with annual sales of over $800 million driven through 42 U.K.
stores, announced strategic objectives to double operating margins and to
increase square footage by one million square feet by late 2005.
Allders will replace several legacy systems with Retek 10 solutions to help
the company effectively manage continued growth of stores and sales
transactions.
ADVANCED RETAIL PLANNING
Accurately planning and forecasting inventory is critical to the success of
any retail operation. Allders selected Retek`s Advanced Retail Planning and
Optimization (ARPO) solution to enable highly detailed and accurate
planning, providing improved inventory control. With ARPO fully implemented,
Allders expects to reduce lost sales and markdowns.
"In addition to replacing outdated legacy merchandising systems, we also
needed to provide the merchandising staff with planning and forecasting
capabilities," said John Tangaa, CIO with Allders. "With greater control and
understanding of our inventory, we plan to reduce lost sales and markdowns.
With the best track record for scalability and integration in the retail
technology sector, Retek was the clearly the best choice."
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Allders also selected a Retek supply chain management solution to manage
imported product information. Allders customers have increased the demand
for imported goods, particularly private label clothing and furniture, from
the Far East and other areas. The Retek supply chain management solution
will allow Allders to directly manage imports and reduce duty and tariff
expenses the company would generally pay a third party agent. The new
solution will also allow buyers and merchandisers to compare the actual
landed cost of items from different locations, and make better sourcing
decisions based on lowest total cost.
"Retek`s supply chain solution will allow us to take better control of our
import process," said Val Selby, Logistics Director with Allders. "With a
better understanding of a product`s true landed cost, we hope to improve
product margins."
RETEK 10
The Retek 10 scalable infrastructure is perfect for companies like Allders
who need flexible systems to grow with the company. The Retek 10 open
architecture allows retailers to add new capabilities as required by the
business, and provide a fast path to realize rapid business value.
"Retek 10 was designed with leading companies like Allders in mind," said
Gordon Masson, EMEA president, Retek. "Flexible deployment options in Retek
10 allow retailers to start small and build to larger solutions through its
modular architecture. For companies planning to grow in number of stores,
sales or services, the flexibility to easily add and modify the retail
infrastructure can have an immediate impact on reaching business goals."
About Allders plc
Allders plc is the 4th largest UK department store group with 42 stores in
total, 21 of which are Allders department stores and 21 are Allders home
stores specializing in furnishings, beds, homewares and home accessories.
Two additional department stores are due to open in Oxford Street, Central
London in mid 2002 and in Plymouth, Devon in 2005.
About Retek Inc.
Retek Inc. is a leading provider of software solutions and services to the
retail industry. Retek`s collaborative solutions help the retail industry
create, manage and fulfill consumer demand. The RIS News Leaderboard 2001
ranked Retek the #1 software vendor for retail. Retek`s offering, Retek 10,
encompasses Retek`s proven strategies, sophisticated software applications,
patented predictive technology, unparalleled services, and the best
practices of its customers and partners. Retek 10 provides retailers with
the fastest path to sustainable business value. Many of the world`s leading
retailers use Retek solutions, including A&P, Tesco, Best Buy, Family Dollar
Stores, Gap, Sainsbury`s, Eckerd Corp. and Kohl`s Department Stores. For
more information, visit http://www.retek.com, or call 1-888-61-RETEK. Retek
can be contacted in Europe at +44 20 7563 4646.
###
Retek is a trademark of Retek Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under
the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such
factors are described from time to time in the company`s Annual Report on
Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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