NEW YORK, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DemandTec, Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAN), a leading provider of on-demand optimization solutions for retailers and consumer products manufacturers, today announced the launch of its nextGEN Assortment Optimization software service, part of the suite of next generation customer-centric merchandising and marketing solutions showcased at the National Retail Federation 99th Annual Convention and Expo January 10-12, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This major upgrade in functionality helps retailers plan localized assortments to more closely meet the needs of target customer segments and increase customer loyalty.

Consistent with DemandTec's nextGEN strategy of integrating the disciplines of merchandising and marketing, DemandTec's nextGEN Assortment Optimization software service now incorporates shopper insights at the point of decision for merchants optimizing assortments.

DemandTec's Assortment Optimization software service first introduced the ability to model incrementality and transferable demand and now also includes insights at the customer segment level to help retailers stock the right items based on a defined strategy for localizing and targeting specific customer segments.

The nextGEN version of Assortment Optimization also includes macro-space optimization capabilities based on a single cross-category model, enabling retailers to add or decrease category space within the store layout that maximizes category growth and customer loyalty.

"With so many categories over-SKU'd for many retailers, assortments today are not just inefficient from a category perspective, they may actually hurt sales dramatically for important customer segments," said Derek Smith, Vice President of Retail Industry Marketing at DemandTec. "With a perception of item clutter, retailers may find they are alienating an important segment even more so than the "average customer." By incorporating a customer-centric approach to SKU rationalization and assortment optimization, retailers can improve the perception of variety while reducing duplication within categories, increasing customer loyalty, and increasing sales."

Powered by the DemandTec Platform(TM), DemandTec's nextGEN Assortment Optimization is part of the comprehensive suite of advanced analytics and optimization software services to integrate assortment, pricing, promotion, space planning and loyalty marketing.

DemandTec's nextGEN version of Assortment Optimization will be showcased along with the company's price optimization, end-to-end promotion management, markdown optimization, and other nextGEN solutions in Booth #643 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

About DemandTec

DemandTec (NASDAQ: DMAN) enables retailers and consumer products companies to optimize merchandising and marketing decisions, individually or collaboratively, to achieve their sales volume, revenue and profitability objectives. DemandTec software services utilize DemandTec's science-based software platform to model and understand consumer behavior. DemandTec customers include more than 195 leading retailers and consumer products manufacturers such as Ahold USA, Best Buy, ConAgra Foods, Delhaize America, General Mills, H-E-B Grocery Co., Hormel Foods, Monoprix, PETCO, Safeway, Sara Lee, The Home Depot, Walmart and WH Smith. Connected via the DemandTec TradePoint Network(TM), DemandTec customers have collaborated online with over 2.8 million trade deals. For more information, please visit www.demandtec.com.

DemandTec Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding DemandTec's expectations, hopes, plans, intentions or strategies, including statements about the benefits of DemandTec's solutions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include those described in DemandTec's documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to DemandTec as of the date hereof, and DemandTec assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


    Media Contact:
    Mitch Kristofferson, DemandTec, Inc.
    (650) 645-7129
    mitch.kristofferson@demandtec.com

    Investor Contact:
    Tim Shanahan, DemandTec, Inc.
    (650) 645-7103
    tim.shanahan@demandtec.com

DemandTec and the DemandTec logo are registered trademarks of DemandTec, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE DemandTec, Inc.