Coles implements Ever.Ag platform to optimize fresh meat supply planning
Retailer uses data science and optimization modeling to improve production planning across beef, lamb and pork categories.
Courtesy of Ever.Ag
Australian supermarket chain Coles Supermarkets partnered with Ever.Ag, a global agri-food technology company, to introduce advanced data science and optimization modeling into Coles' complex fresh meat supply chain. This collaboration marks a major step toward faster, smarter operations across beef, lamb and pork categories.
Historically, planning for meat supply required hours of manual coordination, spreadsheets and deep institutional knowledge. Now, using Ever.Ag's S&OP platform, Coles automatically ingests and models data from across its operations, producing optimized production and deployment plans complete with predictive insights and built-in compliance rules.
Since implementation, Coles has:
- Cut planning time from hours to minutes through automated data modeling.
- Applied business policies consistently across beef, lamb, and pork.
- Reduced operational risk by embedding institutional knowledge into the system.
- Improved customer responsiveness to meet changing demand.
- Improved planning accuracy to better support the management of freshness and pricing across meat categories.
- Strengthened planning capabilities to support more efficient production and inventory management.
"Meat is one of the most complex supply chains in food retail," said Scott Sexton, CEO of Ever.Ag. "By applying data science at scale, Coles is showing what's possible when advanced analytics meet real-world operations."
"Our priority is delivering the best experience for our customers," said Martin Smithson, Coles executive general manager supermarket operations. "This approach helps ensure the freshest cuts are available at the right price."
Looking ahead, Coles and Ever.Ag plan to move from volume-based to value-based optimization, incorporating factors such as profitability, operational efficiency and customer outcomes into the same planning models. This next phase will enable Coles to simulate scenarios, anticipate market swings, and make decisions that balance efficiency with environmental impact.
Source: Ever.Ag
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