Which joint industry project formally defined Category Management in the US?

The designation of Category Management in the U.S. is primarily attributed to the Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) initiative, which was a collaborative effort among various stakeholders in the retail and consumer goods sectors. ECR aimed to enhance supply chain efficiency and customer satisfaction by employing a category-based approach to product management.

The principles of Category Management that emerged from the ECR project focus on organizing products into meaningful categories from a consumer perspective, facilitating better understanding of shopping behavior, and optimizing product assortment and promotions. This allows retailers to align their strategies with consumer needs while increasing profitability for manufacturers and retailers alike.

In contrast, the other options serve distinct purposes: EDLP (Everyday Low Pricing) is a pricing strategy, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) refers to a type of integrated management software, and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) involves managing a company's interactions and relationships with current and potential customers, none of which specifically define or relate to the concept of Category Management in the context the question addresses.