Retailer Selects SAP over Oracle to Support Retail and Wholesale Growth Strategy

by SAP AG

Multichannel Gourmet Food Retailer Harry & David Selects Industry-Specific SAP for Retail Solution Over Oracle to Optimize Retail Store and Wholesale Businesses

In a continuing demonstration of its leadership in providing innovate solutions to the retail industry, SAP America, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP AG, today announced that Harry & David Operations Corp., the premium multichannel gourmet food retailer, has selected SAP for Retail solutions to develop a scalable, integrated IT platform to drive continued growth.

Harry & David selected SAP over Oracle, as it looks to gain greater long- term efficiencies and visibility into its retail and wholesale businesses. The company is one of the nation's oldest catalog mail-order companies and currently operates stores in 34 states. The company's signature fruits, baked goods and confections and hallmark gift box towers have been a staple of gift giving for more than 70 years.

"We are poised for tremendous growth, both as a direct retailer and as a wholesaler to numerous retail outlets," said Joe Foley, CIO, Harry & David Holdings, Inc. "The seasonality of our business demands a platform that can rapidly scale and meet our ever-changing needs. Only SAP's fully integrated business model can provide us with a single operating platform that will take costs out of our infrastructure and give us a solid basis for growth."

With its well-known retail trade and rapidly expanding wholesale operations, Harry & David will gain enhanced efficiency in proactively managing its demand-driven processes, including store operations, inventory management and wholesale operations. Harry & David will leverage the strength of SAP for Retail solutions, including SAP(R) Merchandise and Assortment Planning and SAP Forecasting and Replenishment applications, to drive business benefits in inventory and retail and channel sales, which will support Harry & David's ability to offer more targeted merchandise selections in its retail stores. Harry & David will initially begin its implementation with food and beverage capabilities, followed by SAP ERP Financials.

"SAP's retail solutions are a perfect fit for helping midsize companies like Harry & David achieve greater efficiencies," said Jim Mattecheck, senior vice president and general manager, Retail, SAP America, Inc. "It is a complex, yet focused, retailer with a need for integration and visibility in order to achieve a complete, controlled experience in its multichannel environment. We are proud to add Harry & David to our growing family of 'best run' retailers."