Albertsons Standardizes Its Product Information With Trigo Technologies Software to Drive Strategic Business Initiatives, Increase Collaboration With Suppliers

Single Source of Comprehensive Product Information Established For More Than One Million Grocery and Pharmaceutical Items; Vendors Asked to Electronically Synchronize Product Data by 2004

BOISE, Idaho and BRISBANE, Calif., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Albertsons, Inc., (NYSE: ABS) and Trigo Technologies, Inc. today announced that Albertsons will standardize with Trigo Product Center, the market-leading product information management software application, for more than one million grocery and pharmaceutical items sold by Albertsons' 2,300 retail stores in 31 states.

Albertsons also announced today that it has asked its vendors to electronically synchronize product information with Trigo Product Center in industry-standard format by January 1, 2004. UCCnet, the not-for-profit organization that provides item registry and data synchronization services, will be the preferred method for vendors to register and synchronize their data. The new product data system supports industry standards for electronic item synchronization and enables collaboration through UCCnet and the Albertsons supplier Internet portal.

"The introduction of centralized item synchronization and product information management initiatives demonstrates Albertsons' strategic commitment to deploy leading edge technology to improve corporate performance," said Bob Dunst, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Albertsons.

"Developing a central repository of comprehensive, accurate product information that is seamlessly synchronized with our suppliers' data is key to our goal of becoming the preferred retailer for our vendors," Dunst added. "Our new system will allow us to provide the best customer experience across all touchpoints, and will enhance the company's overall performance. We are building the foundation for future strategic initiatives -- from faster new product introductions, to a comprehensive pricing and promotions infrastructure, to a richer and more targeted experience for our customers. Our new product data system is expected to deliver significant improvements in the relationships we create with our customers and suppliers alike."

Dunst said product information management and item synchronization enhance the quality, consistency and accuracy of the massive amount of item information that Albertsons manages. He added that the new system would enable a wider range of pricing and promotional initiatives and ensure relevant and timely product and pricing information in the store and at the shelf.

Independent industry studies estimate that supply-chain inefficiency and inaccuracy cost the consumer products manufacturing and retail industries $40 billion a year. The studies point out that product information management and item synchronization can reduce time-to-market for product introductions, facilitating additional sales on new items. Data inaccuracies are listed as a leading cause of out-of-stock situations and mismatched inventories.

"Albertsons' decision to standardize on Trigo Product Center validates the importance of product information management and item synchronization as strategic business initiatives for retailers," said Tom Reilly, chief executive officer, Trigo. "Leading retailers such as Albertsons understand that their business is driven by their customers and the products they want to purchase. By establishing a comprehensive system of record for all product information -- what we call a 'golden source of truth' -- Albertsons can deliver a better customer experience, improve supplier relations, drive business performance, and create a competitive edge."

About Trigo

Trigo Technologies, Inc., is the leading provider of Product Information Management software. Trigo Product Center is the first comprehensive Product Information Management solution that allows companies to exchange, manage, analyze, and deliver comprehensive, relevant, and unique product information via multiple channels across and beyond the enterprise. For more information, contact info@trigo.com , visit http://www.trigo.com , or call +1 650-827-0500.

About Albertsons

Albertsons is one of the world's largest food and drug retailers, with annual revenues of approximately $36 billion. Based in Boise, Idaho, the company has more than 200,000 employees and operates approximately 2,300 retail stores in 31 states, including Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Albertsons-Osco, Albertsons-Sav-on, Osco Drug, Sav-on Drugs, Max Foods, and Super Saver, as well as a fast-growing Internet retailing business through http://www.albertsons.com .

Trigo is a trademark or registered trademark of Trigo Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Albertsons; Trigo Technologies, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.albertsons.com http://www.trigo.com