German-owned discount supermarket giant Aldi has awarded a long-term contract to iForce as it steps up its non-food online offering.
Aldi already uses iForce Gateway, the fulfilment solution powered by proprietary software called SMART, from the supply chain specialist’s multi-client warehouse in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Aldi first got iForce Gateway involved in preparation for the launch of its online wine sales in January. Following the initial success of the wine operation, the retailer has now expanded the range of products available online to include items such as handheld vacuums, coffee machines, lawnmowers and blenders, under the banner of Aldi Specialbuys.
iForce said it designed a “bespoke fulfilment model for Aldi, which was then refined during a valuable beta testing period late last year” to ensure the retailer’s ecommerce platform was launched on time and to budget.
Aldi also uses iForce Pathfinder, the company’s carrier management solution, supported by Route Genie software.
Jonathan Neale, joint managing director of corporate buying at Aldi, said: “Our ecommerce platform is a key part of our long-term strategy to make award-winning quality at everyday low prices available to as many people as possible.
“It was important to us that we applied our well established Aldi principles of simplicity and efficiency to our new online operation and iForce’s expertise in fulfilment has helped ensure the smooth launch of our online proposition.”
Brian Gaunt, CEO at iForce, said: “Aldi is a hugely successful, dynamic brand and we are extremely proud to support the launch and ongoing development of its ecommerce operation. Our industry-leading fulfilment and carrier management solutions are underpinned by bespoke software, developed over many years of managing challenges within the evolving modern commerce marketplace. This allows our business to provide tailored solutions that deliver true value for money.”
