PRO Group and Panasonic Announce Strategic Supply Chain Initiative

SECAUCUS, N.J., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- PRO Group, a consortium of prominent American retailers and Panasonic Corporation of North America, the market and industry leader in Plasma television, have developed and deployed a strategic supply chain process, which allows the current members of PRO Group to collaboratively plan their business needs through a customized software interface with Panasonic's Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) system. This system benefits the retailer and manufacturer by creating a vehicle that provides timely point of sales data, allowing Panasonic to get closer to the market, react more quickly and respond to changing market conditions and shift allocations where necessary.

Dave Workman, Executive Director of PRO Group commented, "As the consumer electronics business continues to evolve, it is critical to develop systems which allow for greater accuracy in forecasting with the objective of increasing product turns and reducing costs for both the retailer and the manufacturer. Panasonic has been an outstanding partner in helping us develop the first aggregated supply chain system for the benefit of the PRO Group membership."

In discussing Panasonic's involvement in developing the supply chain system, Merwan Mereby, Vice President New Business Development and Strategic Alliances for Panasonic, added "This is a significant development for both Panasonic and the members of PRO Group. Panasonic is committed to working with our channel partners to reach a new level of efficiency in utilizing supply chain data and enabling the retailers to better forecast and manage their businesses. The better they can forecast, the better we can supply our valued retailers with Panasonic product."

The PRO Group, founded in 1985, consists of 18 companies, spread coast to coast, including Abt Electronics, Anderson's, Bjorn's, Car Toys, Crutchfield, Electronic Expo, Flanner's Home Entertainment, Harvey Electronics, Home Theater Stores, Ken Crane's, Listen-Up, MyerEmco, One Call/Huppins, Ovation, 6th Avenue Electronics, Stereo Advantage, Tweeter, and Vann's

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in high definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. PCEC has established the exclusive Panasonic Plasma Concierge program, a unique 24 hour-seven days a week customer support program that features a toll-free expert hotline. Information about Panasonic products is available at http://www.panasonic.com/. Additional company information for journalists is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom.