Many food wholesale companies are increasingly facing fluctuating market conditions, supply issues, and growing crop failures. These challenges are critical to precise and efficient inventory planning and require new processes. This is precisely the path Neurauter frisch GmbH is taking: The family-owned company is strategically realigning its planning, procurement, and warehousing to meet these rising demands. By implementing REMIRA forecast and replenishment software, Neurauter frisch is laying the groundwork for greater efficiency, improved availability, and the use of AI-powered forecasts—thereby demonstrating what digital transformation in the food wholesale industry can look like in practice.
Neurauter frisch GmbH, headquartered in Ötztal-Bahnhof, Austria, is one of the leading food wholesalers in Tyrol. The family-run, medium-sized company supplies upscale restaurants, hotels, and institutional food service operations in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and South Tyrol, and works daily to provide them with consistently high product availability and efficient processes. With a clear commitment to premium quality, regional sourcing, and ultra-fresh products, the company offers a broad assortment of approximately 6,000 in-stock items and an additional 8,000 pre-order items sourced from around 300 suppliers. However, in the food wholesale industry, product quality alone is no longer the sole determinant of success. Equally important are stable processes, reliable forecasts, and a logistics system that functions even under volatile market conditions. Companies like Neurauter frisch, which handle thousands of items daily, work with tight delivery windows, and deal with demanding fresh food categories, face the challenge of rethinking their processes and professionalizing them through digitalization. This is precisely why Neurauter frisch is striving for comprehensive digitalization that modernizes both its ERP system and its logistics processes.
“Our primary goal was to ensure better availability and minimize the effort involved in inventory planning through digital transformation. After REMIRA was recommended to us, the decision to adopt the software was an easy one after just the first few discussions and demos,”
says René Mark, Head of Purchasing at Neurauter Frisch. Since early 2024, the company has been using REMIRA forecast and replenishment software to make replenishment more efficient, transparent, and future-proof, while also laying the groundwork for further modernization projects.
For René Mark, modernizing the planning process was a crucial step. The previous planning approach via the ERP system was no longer sufficient given the increasing variety of products and rising demands. The implementation of the REMIRA solution therefore fits seamlessly into the company’s digitalization strategy, which includes not only new digital services but also the expansion of the ERP system and the launch of a modern online store.
Another milestone is the ongoing construction of a fully automated high-density automated warehouse at the main location. State-of-the-art robotics technology is intended to make logistics even more efficient in the future and overcome the capacity limitations of the existing warehouse. Automated replenishment forms a central foundation for this, as it creates stable processes that harmonize perfectly with future logistics structures.
“With the introduction of the REMIRA forecast and replenish-ment software, day-to-day operations in purchasing have changed significantly. Where five to six planners used to have to manually check every supplier on a daily basis, today only three employees work with the software—without any loss in quality or speed. Thanks to the reduced planning workload, we can now assign the remaining planning staff to other areas of responsibility. This allows us to strategically reallocate resources to where they create the greatest value,”
says René Mark.
The REMIRA software now displays only those items and suppliers for which there is an actual need. Minimum order values, order dates, and delivery times are automatically taken into account. Calculations—such as minimum order quantities in kilograms—that previously had to be done manually are now handled entirely by the system.
“The software relieves us of an enormous amount of manual work and takes a significant burden off our employees, which they greatly appreciate—that’s why they, too, are very happy to work with the solution,”
Mark explains. The flood of data has become manageable, and scheduling is now significantly more structured than before.
A key success is also reflected in the reduction of inventory:
“With REMIRA, we’ve managed to reduce inventory by 15 to 20 percent during peak season without any impact on product availability. Capital tied up has also decreased noticeably, and inventory levels are much better aligned with actual demand,”
emphasizes René Mark. Despite global supply bottlenecks and volatile procurement markets, the company is able to minimize shortages and respond more quickly. Although lost sales cannot yet be measured precisely, the planners clearly see that the software improves availability and makes procurement more stable.
Noticeable benefits of the REMIRA solution are also evident in the planning of fresh items. Already today, fruit, vegetables, and fresh meat are fully planned via the software, and items from the ultra-fresh category are currently being integrated. The high speed of merchandise procurement—including pre-ordered items that are organized overnight—makes automated planning particularly valuable. Especially in the fresh food sector, where short shelf lives and volatile availability play a major role, the software provides tangible security and predictability. With the new warehouse structure and ongoing digitization, this sector will benefit even more in the future.
The purchasing manager describes the collaboration with REMIRA as very positive:
“From signing the contract to implementation, the project ran smoothly, quickly, and with a high level of technical expertise.”
Thanks to REMIRA’s close guidance and support, the implementation also went without a hitch, allowing the software to be quickly integrated into day-to-day operations. Given the high level of satisfaction—not only among management but also among employees—Neurauter can certainly envision further joint projects in the future—particularly in light of the ongoing digitalization and the new automated small-parts warehouse.
A possible next step is the introduction of the new REMIRA AI Forecasts.
“We are very open to the use of AI and see it as an essential tool for future process optimization. That’s why we’re already looking into specific ways to integrate the AI forecasts,”
explains René Mark. He further emphasizes that AI is not meant to replace employees, but rather to support them in performing their work even more efficiently and effectively. Internal AI projects are already underway today, designed to drive the company forward. Integrating the AI Forecasts would therefore be a logical next step toward further automating forecasts and handling special cases more intelligently.
Using the REMIRA forecast and replenishment software, Neurauter frisch has so far been able to modernize its inventory planning, reduce inventory levels, accelerate processes, and allocate resources more efficiently. At the same time, the company is laying the groundwork for AI-powered forecasts and a state-of-the-art, automated warehouse. This partnership demonstrates how digital transformation can be successfully implemented in the food wholesale industry—with clear benefits for companies, employees, and customers.
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