News Briefs

Beverage brands Calypso Lemonade, Mela Watermelon Water, Health-Ade and So Good So You are elevating their merchandising strategy, tapping into technology that can optimize promotional cycles and on-shelf execution. 

The companies are working with Repsly to tackle challenges around product rotations, seasonal packaging, expanding portfolios and increasingly complex retailer requirements.

Through the partnership, the brands gain increased visibility into inventory performance, providing field teams with real-time data so they can make more precise decisions and adjust their promotional planning.

Also: Modern CPG merchandising takes data, AI and meeting the moment

Through more accurate store-level data, they can stay up to date on whether displays are set up correctly, if promotions are live and if out-of-stocks are hurting sales — and how to respond to create new efficiencies and grow sales efforts.

The brands expect to prevent lost sales, improve their display compliance and ensure products are available during demand peaks. 

"They can also expect to improve the efficiency of their teams, leading to increased territory coverage, and ultimately, improved execution and shelf sales," Repsly CEO Matthew Brogie said in a statement. "It also allows leaders to prove the impact of execution on velocity and revenue, making it easier to secure retailer support and protect key placements and team investments."

HanesBrands is investing in its operational intelligence capabilities through a 10-year partnership with Infosys. 

This initiative is designed to help HanesBrands modernize core operations, enhance agility, simplify its IT environment, and increase the value derived from data. 

Under the agreement, the apparel manufacturer will integrate Infosys' Live Enterprise Automation Platform (LEAP) within Topaz, which employs generative AI and AI-enabled operational technologies.  

Benefits that are expected through the initiative include increased productivity, reduced operational complexity and accelerated digital transformation.

HanesBrands was recently acquired by Gildan Activewear. 

The Coca-Cola Co. has joined MIT's newly established Generative AI Impact Consortium as its first CPG partner. Other members include OpenAI, Analog Devices, Tata Group, SK Telecom and TWG Global.

The Consortium's Objective

The group brings together interdisciplinary MIT researchers and cross-sector industry leaders to look connect cutting-edge AI research with real-world expertise. Its mission is to generate open-source, ethical solutions to complex challenges. 

“This represents a best-of-the-best combination of industry practicality and academic rigor,” said Pratik Thakar, global vice president and head of generative AI at Coca‑Cola. “It also perfectly complements our commitment to make a difference by using AI in service of humanity.”

“We’re thrilled to have the support of Coca‑Cola as a founding member of the Consortium,” said Anantha P. Chandrakasan, provost of MIT, in a statement. “Their global reach and insights will be critical in helping us identify pressing challenges, pulling together the right partners and resources, and putting plans into action to solve problems.”

[Also: Coca-Cola leader named CIO of the Year]

Current Initiative: Project 'Save the Orange'

The group looks to combat devastating impacts of citrus greening — a bacterial disease that threatens the world’s orange supply and has no known cure. It emerged in 2004 and has infected nearly 100% of Florida's orange trees, leading to billions in losses.

Without improvements in detection, management and treatment, the global orange supply could vanish in the next 25 years, according to the consortium.

Generative AI is using data simulation to accelerate research timelines from years to months. The group plans to merge the technology with agritech, biotech and life science research to solve this problem or slow the spread. 

AI-enabled trade promotion and merchandising platform DemandTec is now a standalone company following a restructure funded by Longshore Capital Partners. 

The new structure will help the company accelerate research and development, scale go-to-market capabilities, and deepen customer relationships across the retail and consumer goods spaces. 

Also: Collaboration becomes the new currency in trade promotions

Jack Tirella, CEO of DemandTec, said in a statement that the updated organizational structure will advance the company's self-optimizing artificial intelligence, improve predictive accuracy, and deliver higher ROI across pricing, promotions, markdowns and trade collaborations. 

The existing leadership team, with Tirella at the helm, will remain in place. Additionally, existing contracts, product roadmaps and support efforts will continue without disruption.

Spins, a data and analytics company for the wellness-focused consumer goods industry, has acquired Datasembly, a hyperlocal pricing and promotion intelligence company. The transaction brings together capabilities that will enable a real-time view of product pricing, promotion, assortment and performance in the CPG market.

Spins said this move directly addresses a major gap in the industry: the lack of consistent, store-level pricing data across regions and categories. By integrating Datasembly’s real-time insights with Spins’ proprietary product and category-level intelligence, the companies said brands and retailers will gain increased visibility into trends and performance.

• Also read: Campbell’s strategic pricing and promotions could cushion tariff Impact

“As brands and retailers face rising pressure to compete for shopper loyalty and share of wallet, the need to track pricing dynamics, competitive shifts and promotional activity with speed, depth and clarity has never been greater,” Jay Margolis, CEO of Spins, said in a statement.

Ben Reich, CEO and co-founder of Datasembly, said the acquisition will allow the company to scale its capabilities in bringing increased transparency to pricing data and brand and retailer insights.

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is modernizing its distribution capabilities by launching a new center in Geismar, Louisiana. 

The 375,000 square-foot facility will focus on elevating supply chain efficiency for customers and suppliers, tapping into automations and advanced material handling systems powered by Dematic. Updates include an upgraded conveyor system with palletizer and energy-efficient climate control and lighting to lower energy consumption. 

The upgrades will lead to improved order fulfilment with expedited delivery and more product availability. They will help support scalability efforts over the long term. 

• Also read: Southern Glazer’s elevates proof for “hands-free commerce”

Jason Witty, VP of operations for Southern Glazer’s Central Region, said the increased capacity and optimized technology will help strengthen the company’s ability to better serve customers with greater efficiency. 

Efforts such as these will also help support Southern Glazer’s ongoing distribution expansion. 

Earlier this year, the company announced it would be expanding its distribution footprint with the acquisition of Horizon Beverage Group, a New England-based alcohol distribution company across the wine, spirits, and beer categories.