CatMan 2.0 Delivery Tour to Kick Off in Chicago

CHICAGO — The Category Management 2.0 (CatMan 2.0) Delivery Tour will unveil the next-generation framework for category management success starting July 20 in Chicago. The tour provides an in-depth look at CatMan 2.0 and features speakers from JDA Software Group Inc. (JDA), Market Track, McKee Foods Corp., Walgreens and Interactive Edge and Decision Insights.

In the early 1990s, CMA developed CatMan 1.0 and founded it on the concept of open information sharing, bringing manufacturers and retailers together to anticipate market needs by gathering and studying a common set of consumer data. CatMan 2.0 builds on the basic tenets of CatMan 1.0.

"While the underlying tenets of CatMan 1.0 are still valid — especially its emphasis on understanding shopper needs — the retail landscape has changed dramatically since CatMan 1.0 was widely adopted in the early 1990s," stated said Gordon Wade, senior vice president, best practices business unit at CMA. "In today's omni-channel world, retailers and manufacturers need to target consumer demand at a more detailed level than ever. Fortunately, they have a new generation of tools available to accomplish that, but they often require guidance to apply today's advanced tools and processes in an optimal manner."

CatMan 2.0 serves as a framework for success that recognizes the emergence of Big Data, the advanced analytics that can be applied to that data, the diversification of the retail environment, the new power wielded by consumers and other trends.

"This collection of best practices will help today's retailers and manufacturers optimize their performance in assortment management, pricing, merchandising, promotions and other areas," Wade said.

To design and launch CatMan 2.0, CMA partnered with JDA as the only supply chain vendor included among an exclusive consortium of category management leaders from retailers, manufacturers and solution providers to support the development of CatMan 2.0.

"JDA was honored to be the supply chain provider involved in designing this game-changing new model for retail success," stated Todd McCourtie, senior solutions strategy director for JDA. "With JDA's expertise in data, space and category management and our team's 80+ years of collective category management experience, we made a significant contribution to the process updates of CatMan 2.0, particularly around shelf management, assortment and supply chain strategies."

Convenience Store News parent company Stagnito + Edgell has joined forces with the Category Management Association (CMA) in a promotion and partnership for the updated Category Management 2.0 (CatMan 2.0) initiative, as CSNews Online previously reported. Stagnito + Edgell will promote and market CatMan 2.0 through a variety of communications and information platforms, including in print, digital, events, custom marketing and research.

Registration is open for the CatMan 2.0 Delivery Tour's free kickoff event, to be held July 20 at the O'Hare campus of DePaul University in Chicago. Additional dates and venues will be announced soon.