Winn-Dixie to grow data warehouse

Grocery chain Winn-Dixie Stores is expanding its Teradata data warehouse in an effort to improve its use of data and analytics in marketing.

Winn-Dixie will add additional subject matter areas to its Teradata Enterprise Data Warehouse, which currently houses multiple terabytes of data that Winn-Dixie uses for merchandising, supply chain and marketing analytics. Winn-Dixie's Teradata CRM system also runs off the information in the database.

“Teradata has been a significant partner to Winn-Dixie over recent years, and we have found their expertise, as well as their data warehouse, to be of considerable business value,” said Maura Hart, senior director, information technology for Winn Dixie, in a statement. “We look forward to increasing our enterprise-class intelligence to enable timely, fact-based decisions.”

“Winn-Dixie has impressive plans to grow the business during tough economic times, and we are delighted that they hold strong confidence in Teradata systems to provide the intelligence and insight they rely on for marketing and sales initiatives,” said Dean Wold, VP of retail sales, Teradata East, in a statement.

Data and CRM initiatives at Winn-Dixie include the Winn-Dixie Baby Club, which offers special benefits and rewards to customers who are expecting or have children under the age of 2. Members of the Baby Club earn points —redeemable for grocery discounts — for every dollar spent on baby products at Winn-Dixie. Baby Club also sends gifts and issues in-store coupons to members, all of which is dependent on the information and analysis provided by the data warehouse and CRM system.

Various Winn-Dixie member programs, including Baby Club, take into account a variety of information, including customer spending levels, children's age and product purchases.

Winn-Dixie has 520 stores in the southeastern US. The grocery chain did not respond to requests for comment.