Oliver Wight Integrated Business Planning Brings Sweet Success for Mars

Online, October 15, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Oliver Wight has been working with the Mars Group throughout Eastern and Western Europe, and the USA as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States of the Middle East; Mars GCC, headquartered in Dubai, is not only the first division of the Mars Group to achieve the Class A standard in Integrated Business Planning, but also the first company in the GCC to achieve this level of operating excellence.

Class A accreditation demonstrates the high level of performance and efficiency at which the company operates, bringing benefits to the business and consumers alike, through improved brand freshness; reduced inventory; better cost management and year-round product availability.

Building on the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process developed by the Mars Corporation in the late 1990s, the Oliver Wight Integrated Business Planning programme has helped Mars GCC on its way to achieving ambitious growth plans despite difficult trading conditions. It has allowed the company to develop a longer-term strategic view of its business and to implement highly effective gap-closing initiatives. In one part of the business, revenues were increased by more than 3% almost overnight, simply because of the implementation of a more effective demand review process.

Youssef Mouallem, Integrated Business Planning Leader & GCC LEAN Champion for Mars GCC said: "We are proud to have received the "Class A" accreditation from such a globally recognised and esteemed establishment. We have worked hard throughout last year to meet all the criteria that qualify Mars GCC to be the first global region to receive such award. We aim to sustain our Class accreditation and will remain dedicated to continuing our efforts to build upon our success."

Dave Manning, of Oliver Wight EAME LLP, said: "The team at Mars GCC must be congratulated for achieving this standard of business excellence. It success is due to senior management commitment to the Integrated Business Planning Process and in the strength of leadership shown by the project leader, Youssef Mouallem."

Other parts of the Mars Group are also looking forward to Class A accreditation, beginning with Mars UK Petcare division, later this month.