Fonterra Selects SignalDemand for Predictive Analytics and Optimization

SAN FRANCISCO, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SignalDemand today announced that Fonterra, a global leader in dairy nutrition, has selected the SignalDemand EnterpriseOptimizer™ solution to optimize their mix and lead in volatile markets.  EnterpriseOptimizer will be implemented for Fonterra by SignalDemand, partnered by IBM Global Business Services as a part of the IBM Consumer Products Industry Framework.

Fonterra will use EnterpriseOptimizer to coordinate raw material inputs, inventory, production capacity and demand forecasts to optimize their product and channel mix and maximize the return from products produced from their farmers' milk.  SignalDemand will be used by a number of teams to support the sales and operational planning processes, enabling Fonterra to react at market speed through real-time integration and insight across the business.

"We believe volatility is here to stay and that we must be able to react quickly to changes in market conditions, in a coordinated manner that spans both the supply and demand sides of our organization," said Gerard Gunnell, General Manager, Optimisation at Fonterra.  "SignalDemand will enable us to institutionalize and systematize this market-driven optimization process, allowing Fonterra to provide the business with the best insights and information available."

"The global food industry is poised for a transition, as volatility sends shock waves through its traditional systems.  Price, mix and supply decision making processes need to transition to become more agile, forward-looking, and responsive," said Mike Neal, CEO and founder of SignalDemand. "Market leaders like Fonterra understand that applying rigorous math to these core business decisions delivers significant value to the company's bottom line.  As the food industry transitions, we will continue to develop and deliver solutions through best practice frameworks like the IBM Consumer Products Industry Framework that can address the many challenges facing the industry."

About Fonterra

Fonterra is a global leader in dairy nutrition – the preferred supplier of dairy ingredients to many of the world's leading food companies. Fonterra is also a market leader with its own consumer dairy brands in Australia/New Zealand, Asia/Africa, Middle East and Latin America.

The farmer-owned New Zealand co-operative is the largest processor of milk in the world, producing more than two million tonnes of dairy ingredients, value added dairy ingredients, specialty ingredients and consumer products every year. Drawing on generations of dairy expertise, Fonterra is one of the largest investors in dairy based research and innovation in the world. Fonterra's 16,000 employees work across the dairy spectrum from advising farmers on sustainable farming and milk production, to ensuring we live up to exacting quality standards and delivering every day on our customer promise in more than 100 markets around the world.

About SignalDemand

SignalDemand provides predictive analytics and optimization for commodity based value chains. Through on-demand software and services, SignalDemand delivers real-time recommendations to help make complex price, mix, supply and purchasing decisions across products, customers, channels and suppliers.

SignalDemand's recognition includes being named a "Cool Vendor" in Gartner's "Cool Vendors in Manufacturing" Report and was the only on-demand pricing company recognized by JMP Securities' "Hot 100" list of private companies. Companies such as Wal-Mart, Cargill, ConAgra, Fonterra, JBS, Sobeys, Sysco, Teys Brothers, BJs, Farmland Foods and Hormel rely on SignalDemand for immediate and ongoing improvement of financial performance.  For more information, please visit www.signaldemand.com.

*SignalDemand is a registered trademark of SignalDemand.

SOURCE SignalDemand