Swedish ICA group has announced a new agreement with IT firm Infosys to update its technology operations.
Infosys will provide IT services in the areas of application and infrastructure maintenance for greater efficiency at the group.
ICA said the move will help to create greater flexibility for new business requirements, "be able to cope with rapid and major changes more easily and quickly", and be better able to support its businesses in operational development.
The move will also help to lower its overall costs from 2016, it said.
ICA Sweden operates over 1,300 grocery stores and has a market share of around 36 per cent in the country.
The business is operated in cooperation with independent ICA retailers, who each own and operate their own store, which makes it possible for them to tailor concepts and offers to local demand.
There is also extensive collaboration on expansion, sourcing, logistics, IT and marketing communication - enabling economies of scale to be achieved.
ICA Sweden also has a convenience concept called ICA To Go and ICA Special, which sources non-food items including through Maxi ICA Stormarknad.
ICA Special also runs a wholesale operation for ICA Kvantum, ICA Supermarket and ICA Nära in Sweden.
It delivers products to ICA’s operations in Norway and the Baltic countries.
@ 2015 ESM - European Supermarket Magazine
