ICA Group Selects CBX for End-to-End Global Sourcing Solution

CBX Merchant Reduces Time, Costs, and Risk by Significantly Improving Global Sourcing and Order Follow-ups

29 January 2008, Hong Kong - Core Solutions, the leader in delivering global sourcing, order management, and vendor collaboration solutions today announced that ICA Group , one of the Nordic region's leading retail companies, has chosen CBX Merchant to unify its Asian sourcing process and improve collaboration between buyers and suppliers.

With over 2,200 retail stores and distribution operations in Sweden, Norway and the Baltic States, ICA Group needed an intelligent system to manage its global sourcing operations.  Direct sourcing operations were set up in Hong Kong and Shanghai as part of its strategy to improve product gross margin.  The new sourcing operations created significant challenges in terms of time zones, languages, currencies and processes.

To meet these challenges, ICA Group selected CBX Merchant, a web-based application designed to manage the entire global sourcing process.  With CBX Merchant, buyers, merchants, and suppliers, work together for product development, vendor qualification, quotation, sample management, order management and quality assurance.  CBX Merchant allows multiple stakeholders, regardless of location, to input data simultaneously and to access information in real-time.  In addition, all order, vendor, product , quality and delivery information is stored in a central database.  All information is also date/time stamped and viewable through a collaboration history on the order, creating an crystal clear audit trail while eliminating the need for paper. 

CBX Merchant integrates easily with ICA Group's existing investments in retail systems, eliminating the need to rip-and-replace these systems.   The software is designed in a modular manner that integrates with retail systems and product catalog systems using standard EDI or XML technology.

"ICA Global Sourcing is expanding rapidly in Asia." said Thommy Jarlefelt, Managing Director for ICA Global Sourcing Division.  "We need a sourcing solution that is proven and can scale our operations.  We selected CBX Merchant because of Core Solutions deep industry experience and proven track record in the global sourcing industry."

"CBX  Merchant helps improve their internal sourcing practices to ensure that very complex levels of product specification are developed, defined, communicated, monitored and measured consistently.  ICA will have an end-to-end global sourcing, order follow-up solution that enables them to improve risk and manage profitability," said Michael Hung, CEO for Core Solutions.

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About ICA

The ICA Group (ICA AB) is one of the Nordic region’s leading retail companies, with around 2,250 of its own and retailer-owned stores in Sweden, Norway and in the Baltic States. The Group includes the sales companies ICA Sverige, ICA Norge and Rimi Baltic. ICA also offers financial services to Swedish customers through ICA Banken. ICA AB is a joint venture 40% owned by Hakon Invest AB and 60% by Royal Ahold N.V. of the Netherlands. According to a shareholder agreement, Royal Ahold and Hakon Invest jointly share controlling influence over ICA AB. Through Royal Ahold, ICA AB is part of an international retail network. For more information, please visit

About Core Solutions

Core Solutions is a leading provider of global sourcing and vendor collaboration solutions. With over a decade of experience in global sourcing and vendor collaboration, and offices in key locations around the world, Core Solutions is trusted by the world's most reputable names in retail, manufacturing, banking and logistics. Core's technologies, managed services and consulting services help trading partners streamline business transactions across organization boundaries and improve visibility throughout the global supply chain.  For more information, visit

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