Maximise a product’s potential
As HL celebrates 70 years, we reflect on the progression of one of our flagship products: Multivo™ Max. We had a chat with Product Manager John Southerington about the strategy behind the success.The merchandising solution was launched in 2018, engineered for automated front-facing, ensuring efficient shelf management while adapting to a variety of packaging formats and sizes. Today, it remains one of our top products, accompanied by numerous variants and never resting on its laurels.
Take a look at the video to see some of the many variations of Multivo™ Max in action, and read more below!
Hi John! Let’s look back at the progress of Multivo™ Max, and how it keeps developing.
Sure! What continues to move Multivo™ Max forward to this day is our commitment to continuous product development. Even though our products are in stores, our development never stops. We always see room for improvement, and having our products in the market helps us receive customer feedback that can accelerate product evolution, as we actively apply our findings.
"We’ve received several awards for store solutions using Multivo™ Max, and we’re really proud of that."
What was the beginning like – I guess for the original product: Multivo™?
The original name suggestion for Multivo™ was actually "All-in-One," as we aimed for a solution that could address various needs in the store. We also wanted to incorporate the concept of "multi versatility," which ultimately led to the name Multivo™. Just a little sidetrack! But while Multivo™ had a successful start, we recognized that we could do more. So, we continued our development and launched our new solution Multivo™ Max in 2018, made especially for heavier packaging.
And how was the launch and reception of Multivo™ Max?
Well, we launched Multivo™ Max in 2018, and it quickly gained traction, especially in Sweden, where we saw the biggest initial sales. It is now one of our top sellers annually worldwide, and we still have models from 2018 actively used in stores today, which is pretty cool. We’ve received several awards for store solutions using Multivo™ Max, and we’re really proud of that.
With all the success, what lessons have you learned along the way? Is it possible to “max out” a product?
Experience and customer feedback are invaluable. We've learned how to maximise being wise after the event, and this has helped us expand the Multivo™ Max range in a valuable way for both us and our customers. Our knowledge gained from real in-store usage allows us to refine our products continuously – Multivo™ Max keeps evolving with various new versions and updates since we released it into the wild, six years ago! We now, for example, have the so-called pizza divider that also works great for local products like the Nordic specialty “knäckebröd”, a double decker for merchandising products like cream cheese and smaller pots, and a brand-new pusher version that is suitable for things that need to be handled with a bit more care – like chocolate bars. With the ever-changing retail landscape, I believe we’re just seeing the beginning of what it can become.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Multivo™ Max?
Multivo™ Max will be the newest addition to our Sustainable Choice range, which is very exciting!