At the October Drop & Drive Supply Group event for chilled suppliers, Dan Czuba, Category Supply Manager at Co-op, shared his perspective on how trust, communication and partnership are shaping the future of grocery supply chains.
Drawing on the findings of Co-op’s 2025 Advantage Report, Dan made it clear that collaboration isn’t a soft skill - it’s a strategic advantage.
» Strengthening Supplier Partnerships
Co-op’s 2025 results show tangible progress, with double-digit improvements across vision, execution and engagement. Suppliers highlighted Co-op’s fairness, respect and openness as defining traits.
One supplier noted that Co-op is “very collaborative, which makes it easy working with them,” particularly when tackling challenges around sustainability or efficiency. This balance of transparency and mutual respect builds confidence and enables better performance.
As Dan explained, “Trust and collaboration are what enable agility and resilience. Without them, efficiency is never sustainable.”
» Tackling Forecasting and Demand Planning
While supplier engagement and partnership scores are strong, forecasting and demand planning remain industry-wide pain points. Suppliers urged greater use of automation and AI to improve forecasting accuracy, as well as better data visibility - from depot stock levels to on-shelf availability.
Dan acknowledged the challenge and outlined how Co-op is addressing it:
“We’re investing time in aligning processes earlier, with longer lead planning and more structured conversations before promotions.”
This structured approach - built around a 12-week promotional planning timeline - aims to turn communication improvements into measurable results on shelf. The next step, Dan said, is to leverage technology and joint working with suppliers to improve availability and forecasting accuracy.
» Looking Ahead – Strategic Alignment
Encouragingly, Co-op’s latest results show continued improvement in strategic alignment and collaborative business planning, a sign that stronger internal and external connections are helping the business rebuild momentum after the disruption caused by this year’s cyber-attack.
Dan’s closing message to suppliers was both pragmatic and hopeful:
“Over 20 years in supply chain has shown me that success depends as much on relationships as on systems. When we listen, share data, and plan together, we all move faster - and deliver more for customers.”
» The Takeaway
As retailers and suppliers look towards 2026, Co-op’s experience underlines a vital truth: collaboration is no longer optional. In a world of volatility, it’s the foundation of resilience, agility and sustainable growth for the UK grocery supply chain.
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Our membership programmes are now out for 2026 - find out more about how our groups support suppliers to collaborate with retailers; building positive partnerships and improving processes.
Request a copy of our 2026 membership programme: info@simply-sc.com
