PG Web Extra: Sprouts' Supply Chain Success

Innovative independent natural food chain Sprouts Farmers Market, based in Phoenix, has been experimenting with new supply chain technology via a partnership with iTradeNetwork, a cloud-based trading network that connects buyers and sellers across the food industry. In fact, Sprouts was named Innovator of the Year for Supply Chain Technology by iTradeNetwork at the company’s annual customer conference, held earlier this year in Las Vegas.

Sprouts, which operates more than 190 stores in 11 states, was recognized for its contributions to the new iTrade store order management solution, scheduled for general release later this year.

The grocer has been live on the solution and is coming up to 100 percent deployment, according to Mia Farber, director of product marketing at Pleasanton, Calif.-based iTradeNetwork. “They’ve already experienced significant time reduction in their daily allocation processes,” she says.

Sprouts was a key contributor in helping shape the fully automated system, with features that include order creation and confirmations, store-ranked inventory allocation, item substitution management, order status updates, and a reporting and analytics engine.