Morrisons to Share More Data with Suppliers

Morrisons is to share more operational data with suppliers as part of an ongoing programme to buy and sell more simply and make better decisions. 

Morrisons will share more sales, forecasting, waste, stock and range information through its Morrisons Supplier database and is also offering suppliers the opportunity to see customer data from its More Card.

Morrisons is making the move after listening to suppliers who said that having access to this data would enable them to plan and make the right decisions for Morrisons customers.

The Morrisons Supplier Database is being enhanced so that suppliers can quickly view and interact with sales and supply chain performance data; helping Morrisons and its suppliers to take action to increase availability, reduce waste, improve promotional performance and ensure the right product is at the right place, at the right time. A pilot has been positive and the launch is due this month. This remains a free service that all suppliers can register to access.

This month, the supermarket will also launch Morrisons Edge, supported by IRI, a provider of customer analytics. This will provide buyers and suppliers with Morrisons basket data and shopper information, combined with market information.  Morisons believes sharing this data will lead to more customer-focused decisions.

Morrisons is also introducing a number of other measures to make it simpler to work with, including:

• Changing its internal structures so that supply chain and buying teams sit together in a single ‘business unit’ with shared targets.
• Planning promotions further out to enable better planning with suppliers.
• Improving the capacity of Morrisons own-brand team to speed up new product development.

Andy Atkinson, Group Commercial Director said: “We have big plans for the year and we aim to grow profitably with our suppliers. We’ve said we want to be simpler to work with – and all of these improvements will help buyers to spend more time with suppliers to work on long term initiatives to unlock mutual growth.”