CASE STUDY – PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALER 

How improving supply chain maturity can deliver better business performance

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The challenge

Each year, spring sales of feed, supplements and consumables were highly dependent on unpredictable weather. While total seasonal demand was understood, the timing and location of that demand were not.

Previous approaches led to inconsistent performance—missed sales opportunities, excess stock in the wrong locations, and frustration across suppliers, customers and internal teams. Planning was often reactive, with limited coordination and poor visibility across the supply chain.

What we did

JFI Consultancy introduced a structured, collaborative planning approach using a supply chain maturity framework.

This aligned manufacturers, hauliers, customers and internal teams (finance, operations, sales and marketing) around a single, data-driven seasonal plan, creating clarity on demand, inventory positioning and decision-making throughout the season.

How it worked

  • Forecasting began in the previous autumn, combining data and insight from across the supply chain

  • Inventory volumes, locations and timing were agreed collaboratively with all stakeholders

  • Clear governance was established to monitor performance and enable fast, informed decisions in-season

  • Plans and investment were signed off at senior level, ensuring alignment and accountability

  • A full end-of-season review captured learnings to continuously improve future performance

The results

JFI worked closely with the client to deliver measurable improvements across the entire supply chain

94% sell-through

JFI managed to deliver the highest spring performance on record

Targets achieved

We enabled the business to meet sales and profit targets for the first time in 10 years

Reduced excess stock

JFI improved inventory positioning across the network, reducing surplus stock

Faster response

Increased agility to react to changing demand

Why it matters

By moving from reactive decision-making to structured, collaborative planning, the business gained control, visibility and agility—turning a weather-dependent sales cycle into a consistently high-performing season.