As it intensifies its push into groceries and perishable foods, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is betting it can take on these labor-intensive categories by adding efficiency, not bodies.
The company is throwing its supply-chain and inventory management expertise behind the delicate logistics of stocking and selling products that can wilt or sour, but if a data-driven solution to what historically has been perceived as a people problem fails, it won’t just be the groceries that spoil.
“It’s one of the top issues they face,” said Gary Giblen, an independent retail industry consultant. “You only get one time at bat with perishables,” he said.
Groceries are a big opportunity for Wal-Mart. “About half of meals eaten in this country include one fresh item,” said Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst for the NPD Group.
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