Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., which operates Circle K and other convenience-store brands, is implementing supply chain and retail planning company Relex Solutions’ artificial intelligence (AI)-powered and machine-learning solutions across its North American operations.
- Alimentation Couche-Tard is No. 2 on CSP’s 2023 Top 202 list of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
Relex’s AI and machine-learning solutions will enhance inventory management by optimizing store stock levels while ensuring products are available when and where customers need them, the company said.
“Key to our mission to make our customers’ lives a little easier every day is ensuring we always have the products and brands they want, when they want them, which is why we are very pleased to incorporate Relex solutions into our North American operations,” said Trey Powell, senior vice president of global merchandising at Couche-Tard. “With Relex, we can tailor advanced forecasting and inventory management to the needs of our individual stores and streamline our internal processes for better efficiency to provide the best quality products and a best-in-class customer experience.”
By integrating these advanced systems into its North American convenience stores, Couche-Tard plans to improve its merchandising strategy by evolving space decisions and management of product replenishment throughout the organization.
The decision to implement Relex was propelled by a need for a more integrated inventory management system, according to Laval, Quebec-based Couche-Tard.
This change is expected to optimize inventory levels, significantly reduce out-of-stocks and improve the effectiveness of merchandising and internal team efficiency. Since 2017, Relex has provided Couche-Tard's European business with measurable results after implementing a unified supply chain and store and floor planning solution.
“We are honored by Circle K’s trust as they implement our unified solutions across their North American operations,” said Keith Adams, senior vice president of North America at Atlanta-based Relex. “Their trust in our solution’s capabilities is a reflection of our commitment to delivering value through our unified platform. We are confident that our solutions will significantly contribute to Circle K's journey towards operational excellence and further strengthen our long-standing relationship.”
Alimentation Couche-Tard operates in 29 countries and territories, with more than 16,700 stores, of which almost 13,100 offer road transportation fuel. Its network includes more than 7,100 stores in the United States, primarily under the Circle K and Holiday Stationstores banners, and approximately 2,100 in Canada under the Circle K, Mac’s and Couche-Tard banners.
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