Oliver Wight Integrated Business Planning is the Cat's Whiskers for Mars Petcare

Online, May 4, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Mars Petcare had been in search of an IT solution to further improve the management of its sales and operations data, until a discussion with Oliver Wight inspired a different approach. Two years on, the company has successfully implemented an IBP programme and achieved Class A status. As a result, customer service levels have reached 99%, whilst stock levels have reduced by 15%, and the company has been voted best branded supplier by supermarket chain, ASDA.

David Wragg is Sales and Operations Planning Manager for Mars Petcare UK, which has three sites - in Peterborough, Waltham on the Wolds and Melton Mowbray - and, with brands such as Pedigree and Whiskas, is responsible for over one third of all Mars' UK sales.

"IBP standardises business processes, but it also allows you to be dynamic; it does not restrain you and that is vital in our organisation, where freedom is one of the bedrock operating principles for shaping the company's future," he says.

The company's existing operational structure was well suited to the IBP implementation because heads of the key functions of product, demand and supply were already in place, and this aided the speed of implementation. Within nine months, and in a volatile market, the process had eliminated all bias from forecasting and increased the organisation's business horizon to 24 months. "After just four monthly cycles, IBP was telling us that our growth was going to be much greater than we were planning for; it was proven to be true."

The company's demand plan is now based on a single set of numbers and is driving the business forward. "There is a gap-closing mentality right across the division," says Wragg, "and we are constantly reviewing our processes to make sure we continue to improve."

Mars has been family-owned business since 1911. It has 137 factories and 68,000 employees, worldwide. 11 of its brands have revenues of more than $1 billion each and Group sales have almost doubled since 2004.

Oliver Wight is working with the Mars Group throughout Eastern and Western Europe; the USA; and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States of the Middle East. Mars Petcare UK is the second division of the Group to receive Class A accreditation. Mars GCC in Dubai achieved Class A in October last year and the Russian operation is expected to achieve Class A within the next few months.