Sainsbury's has drafted in Accenture executives to help manage four of its stores.
The initiative is designed to accelerate the pace of the troubled grocer's systems change strategy, which aims to facilitate effective range reviews, and improve availability levels and merchandising. Three top Accenture executives work as partners to the stores and liaise closely with managers.
Accenture managing director for the UK and Ireland Ian Watmore is working with Sainsbury's in Cheadle, Staffordshire. Accenture head of retail Richard Wildman is at the Fulham outlet, while partner Richard Hill has been sent to stores at Walton, Surrey, and Streatham in south London.
The Accenture executives spend one day a week in stores, while other Accenture staff have worked permanently in the three test-bed outlets and are now analysing findings.
Sainsbury's chief information officer Maggie Miller said: 'Having Accenture in ensures we are looking at our systems end to end. We have made a huge investment in this and need to deliver the benefits as rapidly as we can.'
Accenture was brought in by Sainsbury's in 2001 to overhaul its IT. Last year, the grocer extended the contract by another three years, to 2010.
Separately, Sainsbury's and Usdaw remained in talks, mediated by ACAS, over a pay-dispute at the grocer's Haydock warehouse, as Retail Week went to press.
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