Affordable, high-end solution provides centralized data center for independent grocer

CHICAGO – May 2, 2004 — Lowe’s Food Stores, Inc., a Littlefield, Texas-based independent grocery chain, has chosen StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC’s Connected Services as its preferred hosting solution. Initially, Lowe’s will use StoreNext’s Connected Item Hosting and Connected Direct Store Delivery (C-DSD) applications.

The announcement was made at the 2004 FMI Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, May 2-4.

StoreNext’s connected applications will be used in Lowe’s 65 stores throughout Texas and New Mexico to provide a centralized, Web-based item and price management system that doesn’t require upfront software, hardware and staffing costs. StoreNext and Lowe’s will work with Affiliated Foods Inc., Lowe’s Amarillo, Texas-based wholesaler, to automate and configure item and pricing data for all stores.

“StoreNext’s Connected Services is building a reputation for leveling the IT playing field for independent grocers, and they’ve certainly helped us,” said Rory Glidewell, information systems (IS) director at Lowe’s. “The Connected Item Hosting and C-DSD applications cost about 50 percent less than similar systems and allow data sharing between our stores and our wholesaler, so we can make accurate order forecasts that lead to reduced costs.”

Lowe’s will combine these applications with the recently installed Connected Store Analytics & Reporting (C-STAR) and Connected Electronic Journal modules from StoreNext. Lowe’s uses StoreNext’s ISS45 store software with Fujitsu Transaction Solution’s TeamPoS point-of-sale (POS) terminals and scanner/scales, plus Fujitsu’s mobile iPAD handheld computer running CE.NET. Lubbock, Texas-based Cash Register Services Inc. provides infrastructure management services.

“StoreNext’s Connected Services, combined with Fujitsu’s hardware and software, makes a complete solution that we could only dream about a few years ago,” Glidewell added. “The ability to access our store data any time, anywhere helps us quickly analyze information, and even apply POS software updates, whether we’re in the store or on the road. All we need is a Web browser.”

“Lowe’s is the first grocery chain to use our Connected Item Hosting and C-DSD applications, and we believe their IT strategy is a good model for the independent grocery industry to follow,” said Ray Carlin, president and chief executive officer at Plano, Texas-based StoreNext. “Small-chain grocers must reshape their businesses to survive against the retail giants and information technology is vital to achieving that goal. StoreNext can provide the technology and services to help make that happen.”

Connected Item Hosting (CIH) fully integrates with StoreNext’s ISS45 POS platform and supports all the major data components, including the item file, price file, promotions engine and more. It also supports the entire life cycle of an item or promotion, from creation, to pricing, to final chain-store distribution. Connected Item Hosting acts as the master item catalog and manages UPC files across every store in the chain while serving as a data repository for other Connected Services modules.

Connected Direct Store Delivery provides small grocery chains with automated receiving functions without the need of a back-office system. It allows Web-based cost management and supervision of vendor check-in, ensuring accurate costs and profitable margins for the grocer. C-DSD also features a documents manager that allows the auditing and updating of receiving documents.

About StoreNext

StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC is the No. 1 supplier of retail technology to independent grocers and small chains. Based in Plano, Texas, StoreNext is a joint venture of Retalix Ltd. (NASDAQ: RTLX) and Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. and markets Fujitsu POS hardware, Retalix’s ISS45 POS software and Internet Connected Services for managing stores via Web-enabled applications. StoreNext is the only retail IT company focused exclusively on meeting the needs of this wholesaler-served market with packaged solutions that were previously available, affordable or practical only for large chains.

For sales and product information call (469) 241-8400.

Connected Services is a trademark of StoreNext Retail Technologies LLC. Trax, ShrinkTrax, DM2, and SmartStore are registered trademarks of Trax Retail Solutions, Inc.