New Tesco portal shows suppliers how customers buy

Tesco has launched a new web portal that enables suppliers to see how the supermarket’s customers buy.

Tesco says the new Tesco Connect portal means thousands of suppliers can use it to map and respond to customer demand and identify emerging product trends. Combining the forecasts with information on how quickly a product is selling ensures much better product availability for customers.

Tony Mitchell, Tesco’s supply chain director, said: “We are always looking for new ways to improve the service for customers and the information and insight shared through Tesco Connect comes from several years of development and technical innovation.

“We’ve already had some fantastic feedback from the suppliers who have worked with us on the new portal. Many of them have told us that the forecast data has begun to change the way they work and will help re-focus their efforts.”

Suppliers such as Innocent, Nestle and Unilever were involved in piloting the new portal, resulting, Tesco said, in measurable benefits including a reduction of a third in the number of shortages.