ROCKVILLE, Md. - October 14, 2003 - Manugistics Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MANU), a leading global provider of demand and supply chain management solutions, today announced that H.J. Heinz Company has selected Manugistics solutions as part of its ongoing initiatives to help improve its demand forecasting process, reduce inventory levels and boost customer service. With a more integrated and streamlined supply chain strategy, Heinz expects to achieve overall operating cost savings while reinforcing the company's commitment to product innovation and customer satisfaction.
An innovator in the competitive consumer products marketplace, Heinz selected Manugistics to replace its existing systems after a careful and competitive review process.
By using Manugistics solutions to migrate to a highly focused, regionalized supply chain strategy, Heinz plans to establish a demand forecast that connects the company more directly to its customers and complements a unified national inventory strategy. Enhanced demand planning and manufacturing efficiency and streamlined logistics operations will help Heinz boost customer service levels, while taking costs out of operations and reducing inventory levels.
"Our commitment to customer service requires a state-of-the-art demand forecasting system," said George Chappelle, vice president and chief information officer, Heinz. "We selected Manugistics for this initiative based on Manugistics' proven expertise in the CPG industry. We expect to find new value in our existing IT infrastructure with the roll-out of the Manugistics 7 solutions - with the open architecture and ease of integration that Manugistics has demonstrated. We look forward to working with Manugistics to further our long-standing commitment to supply chain efficiency and customer service. "
"Heinz is a global powerhouse in retail and foodservice channels, with a world-class portfolio of leading branded businesses throughout the world. Their success is due largely to the company's tireless commitment to innovation, and we are honored to have this opportunity to partner with Heinz as they work to deliver even higher levels of business performance and customer satisfaction," commented Bob McFarland, senior vice president, consumer products, Manugistics.
