Leading French Retailers select MySQL for their Supply Chain Management

Paris -- May 30, 2006 -- Franprix and Leader Price have chosen MySQL, the world's most popular open source database, to manage the data in their enterprise-wide supply chain and product distribution platforms -- servicing over 620 Franprix stores and 490 Leader Price outlets.

The MySQL-based information system covers all the business needs of the entire supply and distribution chain: from purchase management, order preparation, warehouse logistics, and product inventory for all the Franprix and Leader Price stores.

The retailers' IT group selected the open source database while migrating to a more modern architecture and consolidating its hardware and software infrastructure. The new system had to be able to scale according to the needs of the stores, their growing numbers, and the increasing amount of data. The company was looking for a fast, robust, and reliable relational database with very low administration requirements. After an in-depth analysis of the possible alternatives, the MySQL open source database proved to be the best choice.

Thanks to its pluggable storage engine architecture, MySQL is extremely flexible and fast. The various components of the system can use MySQL's different storage engines - both transactional and Web-optimized -- in the same application, running on Sun Solaris servers and using an interface developed with Windev. This has improved performance in managing the databases containing over 100 GB of data per warehouse.

According to an internal project manager; "In addition to the opportunity to use several different engines, the main advantage of MySQL is that it is easy to install, easy to administer and easy to use. It's not 'plug-and-play', but rather almost 'install-and-forget'! The solution is perfectly in line with our internal philosophy of performance at the best price."

The company rolled out the system in each of its warehouses, setting up replicated databases in a number of them. It already manages over 200 user movements simultaneously every day. The IT staff was trained by MySQL AB's expert professional services group.

"We are delighted that these two leading French retailers have selected MySQL for this critical business application," said Bertrand Matthelié, MySQL AB's Director of Marketing for EMEA. "As their chains expand in France and other European countries, MySQL can help them remain efficient while keeping their operational costs - and product prices - down."

Franprix and Leader Price also subscribed to the MySQL Network offering, combining peace-of-mind and production support with ease of use. MySQL Network offers them a direct access to MySQL senior support staff 24/7 in addition to certified software, updates & upgrades, technical alerts, a comprehensive knowledge base and other advantages.

About Franprix and Leader Price

The distribution platforms supply more than 1,100 stores from a dozen of warehouses located throughout France, bringing high quality products at discounted prices closer to the customers.

About MySQL

MySQL AB develops and supports a family of high-performance, affordable database products - including MySQL Network, a comprehensive set of certified software and premium support services. The company's flagship product is the MySQL Server, the world's most popular open source database, with more than 10 million active installations. Many of the world's largest organizations, including Yahoo!, Alcatel, The Associated Press, Suzuki and NASA are realizing significant cost savings by using MySQL to power high-volume websites, business-critical enterprise applications and packaged software.

With headquarters in Sweden and the United States - and operations around the world - MySQL AB supports both open source values and corporate customers' needs in a profitable, sustainable business. For more information about MySQL, please visit www.mysql.com.