28 September 2026
Strategic alliance bridges the execution gap between back-end replenishment and front-end space planning, eliminating phantom stockouts and boosting store profitability.
Deventer, Netherlands / Wildeshausen, Germany – Slimstock, a global leader in AI-driven supply chain planning and inventory optimization solutions, and Hoffrogge, a technology leader in store-individual optimisation of space, range and shelf placement, today announced a strategic partnership. The collaboration unites Slimstock’s Slim4 platform with Hoffrogge’s Category Management software platform to create a truly shelf-connected retail supply chain.
The partnership addresses a persistent industry challenge: traditional supply chain management focuses on “the what” (what and how much to order), while space planning focuses on “the where” (physical shelf layout and capacity). This disconnect creates an execution gap that leads to backroom congestion, phantom stockouts (product in the store but not on the shelf), ineffective promotions, wasted space, excess write-offs and misaligned assortments.
Bridging the Last Ten Feet
Retail performance is routinely won or lost in the “last ten feet”—the critical journey from backroom inventory to the retail shelf. The integrated solution harmonizes these workflows by applying shelf-aware replenishment logic:
- Constraint-aware inventory flow and real-time shelf-capacity feedback into Slim4’s order advice
- Forecast-aware facings and assortment synchronisation so high-velocity items receive appropriate shelf space
- Minimum presentation rules and maximum capacity caps that prevent both empty-looking shelves and backroom overflow
- Store-individual planograms and justification for SKU range decisions based on actual sales velocity and supply constraints
Strategic Metrics
By closing the loop between backroom stock and shelf execution, the joint offering delivers quantifiable operational impact:
- Up to 30% improvement in on-shelf availability
- Up to 40% reduction in in-store labour costs related to stock handling and “firefighting”
- Approximately 5% increase in sales turnover
- Up to 60% reduction in stock write-offs
- 80% less manual effort in creating planograms
“By connecting the shelf directly to the supply chain, we eliminate the ‘Phantom Stockout’ once and for all,” said Global Director of Partnership at Slimstock. “This partnership enables retailers to stop fighting fires in store aisles and instead align financial budgets, space planning, and replenishment around one unified truth.”
“Space planning and replenishment should no longer operate independently,” said Wilhelm Hoffrogge, Managing Director at Hoffrogge. “Together with Slimstock, we bring store-specific planogram precision and real-time inventory intelligence into one connected approach, enabling retailers to unlock a new level of efficiency and profitability.”
The solution is particularly relevant for FMCG and grocery retailers balancing fresh-food agility with centre-store efficiency, health & beauty and pharmacy chains with high-density shelving and strict compliance needs, and industrial/wholesale distributors that support retail merchandising or manage large catalogues.
About Slimstock
Slimstock is a global leader in supply chain planning, helping organizations plan smarter and operate with confidence in complex, fast-changing markets. With deep expertise in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), demand forecasting, and inventory optimization, Slimstock enables businesses to align operational decisions with strategic objectives. Trusted by organizations worldwide, Slimstock empowers teams to move from reactive to proactive planning and achieve better business outcomes.
About Hoffrogge
Hoffrogge develops a state-of-the-art software platform for truly scalable store-level optimisation of space, range and shelf placement. Customers benefit from significantly improved sales performance, while AI and a patented process reduce the manual planning workload to a minimum. The company’s in-depth expertise is built on more than 500 successfully delivered projects across numerous categories, channels and countries. Leading retailers and manufacturers including EDEKA, REWE, Coca-Cola, ABInBev, Mondelēz, Shell and Douglas have trusted Hoffrogge for many years.
