Instinct Pet Food, a retailer focused on pet nutrition for dogs and cats, is rolling out an AI-powered platform to boost its sales and operations planning (S&OP) capabilities.

As part of a new partnership with supply chain and demand planning solutions company Demand Chain AI, the business has deployed an end-to-end integrated platform which uses AI to facilitate a unified data model, with a focus on enabling seamless operations, precision forecasting, and data-driven decision-making throughout the demand chain.

The platform uses AI for a range of services, including analysing historical sales data and processing real-time data, market trends and external factors to predict future demand, with the aim of maintaining robust inventory levels.

Founded in 2002, Instinct Pet Food specialises in holistic pet food offering a range of food options, including frozen and freeze-dried raw meals, kibble, toppers, and wet food. The company says that it powers its manufacturing facility with 100 per cent renewable energy, with a pledge to achieving Net Zero by 2050.

The company has manufacturing facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, and its headquarters are located in St. Louis, Missouri.

The new platform’s AI algorithms also help determine the most efficient routes for transportation, helping reduce delivery times and costs while evaluating suppliers on various criteria to select the best options for the retailer.

The move aims to help refine Instinct’s operational processes, including providing alignment across planning, production, and inventory management, which the company says will facilitate greater efficiency and agility while supporting sustainable growth.

Beau Mainous, chief executive officer of Instinct Pet Food, emphasised the retailer’s commitment to delivering the best quality raw nutrition to pets while maintaining operational excellence.

Commenting on the partnership he said: “We are taking proactive steps to enhance our supply chain processes, allowing us to better serve our customers and support our long-term growth.”

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