Fortnum & Mason is revamping its product development and supplier management operations to streamline processes and support it through its next phase of growth.

The company is introducing a centralised system to manage product information, supplier relationships and quality controls to simplify the increasingly complex processes behind its luxury food and gifting ranges.

The change will bring together product specifications, approvals and supplier documentation, replacing manual processes and making it easier for teams to manage products from development through to launch.

With a supplier network spanning major international brands and smaller independent producers, Fortnum & Mason is looking to improve visibility across its supply chain, while maintaining the ‘quality standards associated with its Piccadilly flagship’.

The changes will also give teams greater oversight of ingredients, packaging, sustainability information and regulatory requirements, helping the retailer respond more quickly to changes and reduce administrative workloads.

Fortnum & Mason head of technical Laura McLindon said the investment would allow teams and suppliers to work from the same up-to-date information, rather than relying on separate systems and manual tracking.

Fortnum & Mason selected Oracle Retail Brand Compliance Management to support the transformation, building on its existing relationship with the provider.

The investment forms part of Fortnum & Mason’s wider push to modernise its operations and improve efficiency without compromising its heritage-led proposition.

Earlier this year, it introduced Fortnum’s Connect, a clienteling platform designed to give store colleagues greater access to customer information and deliver more personalised shopping experiences.

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