Circle K, the European branch of one of the world’s leading convenience retailers, has chosen RELEX Solutions to optimize inventory levels and increase automation at the store level. With RELEX’ best-in-class replenishment solution, Circle K will optimize and automate replenishment to their 450+ Scandinavian company-owned and operated convenience stores.
Circle K has more than 15,000 service stations globally, offering fueling services, food on the go, groceries and car care. Following a successful pilot, the company selected RELEX as their partner for introducing stock control and automating replenishment to their company-owned and company-operated convenience stores in Scandinavia.
In addition to RELEX’ modern state-of-the-art technology and its unprecedented track record of fast, timely and successful implementation projects, it was the intuitive RELEX Mobile App and the system’s capabilities for calculating and storing inventory balances, a task normally handled by the ERP, that sealed the deal for Circle K. Following a quick technical integration where RELEX built interfaces to two of Circle K’s internal IT systems as well as one of Circle K’s supplier’s IT systems, the solution was ready to be piloted.
During the pilot, we saw on-shelf-availability increasing up to 99 %, while inventory levels fell significantly across the pilot categories.
“The RELEX team addressed our challenges head-on, and with their flexible system they were able to offer us a solution that fits elegantly to our business needs,” says Ole Christian Remen, Senior Director Supply Chain Europe, Convenience at Circle K. However, there was still a need to validate that the system would work in practice. “During the pilot, we saw on-shelf-availability increasing up to 99 %, while inventory levels fell significantly across the pilot categories, so I think it is fair to say we accomplished that,” adds Remen.
Circle K now have a better overview and real-time visibility to store inventory levels and KPI’s. However, it was not only the central team who were happy. A store manager from one of the first 13 pilot stores had the following feedback: “Absolutely marvelous. The system ensures the right amount of each product at the right time – not to mention how much easier it is when a colleague is absent. Orders are placed, and the goods come anyway. I recommend that it be rolled out to all stores.”
RELEX’s replenishment solution has proven to be just what we searched for – a powerful, lean replenishment machine.
The solid results and the unanimous recommendation from the pilot store managers to roll out RELEX to more stores and categories led to a go ahead from the management team to expand the scope to all company-owned and operated convenience stores across Scandinavia. “RELEX’s replenishment solution has proven to be just what we searched for – a powerful, lean replenishment machine,” Remen continues.
RELEX and Circle K are now entering an exciting phase of the project as the solution is being rolled out to all 450+ stores in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. “By upholding the high level of automation used in the pilot and ensuring success at the store level, we will continue building on the results we have seen so far and ensure that minimal time is spent in ordering,” says Ida Myran, Business Manager at RELEX. “It has been extremely rewarding to work with the passionate and highly professional Circle K team, and we look forward to achieving more great things with them in the months to come.”
About Circle K
Circle K AS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. In Europe Couche-Tard operates 2,754 stores, comprising a broad retail network across nine countries. Including employees at its branded franchise stations, about 25,000 people work in its retail network, terminals and service offices across Europe.
More information: https://www.circlek.com/