In this paper, we explore forecasting and stock control related opportunities for increasing service levels and reducing costs in a wholesaling context. We analyse pertinent issues through a case study of a UK-based wholesaler of engineering supplies. This research work has been launched along with the initiation of a project in the organisation under concern that aimed at increasing the service availability to consumers and reducing the overall stock levels. Our work has been conducted in collaboration with a dedicated working group in that company. We will show, through this case study, that although a rather ‘basic’ (as compared to the theoretical advancements in this area) inventory control solution has been proposed, the projected organisational savings are substantial. This result is not surprising, but rather it has been expected since practical in-house inventory management related applications lag considerably behind the corresponding theoretical propositions in this area. In that respect, our work can be seen as a contribution towards bridging the gap between the theory and practice of OR in the area of inventory management.