Wal-Mart Wants Meat in 48-Hours
By George Anderson
Wal-Mart wants to cut the time it takes for it to get case-ready meat after placing an order from 96 to 48-hours, reports Reuters.
Ken Stettmeier, merchandise manager for fresh meats, Wal-Mart said the retailer was looking to do a better job of tracking sales to anticipate the demand for specific items at
individual store locations.
Mr. Stettmeier said that the company would use its centralized system to do the tracking and there was sufficient flexibility to make changes when meat reached one of the company’s
distribution centers.
Case-ready meat sales have been strong at Wal-Mart, in part, said Mr. Stettmeier, because of consumers’ interest in high protein diets. “I don’t believe it’s just a fad. It’s
a lifestyle,” he said.
Moderator’s Comment: Would achieving a 48-hour turnaround give Wal-Mart a competitive advantage over grocers, butchers and others selling fresh meat?
Less product stored means lower costs for Wal-Mart. Savings passed on to consumers mean the retailer further pushes its low price advantage. [George
Anderson – Moderator]