Technology Emerges as a Competitive Differentiator

Leading companies are using the latest advancements for better marketplace position.

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For the eighth year in a row, Food Logistics has identified the top 100 technology and solution providers to the food industry. The FL100 is a listing of software, hardware and IT service providers that focus on the unique technology needs of the food distribution business.

These companies are selected based on their proven track records and expertise in providing food companies with the tools to help them meet business objectives. In addition to the listings, we’ve provided charts that list 18 categories of technology solutions and identifies which solutions each of the FL100 offers. The FL100 is not a ranking—the alphabetical listing has been designed to help readers find the right solution partners to overcome their supply chain challenges.

 

Actiw Oy, Pieksamaki, Finland

Web site: www.actiw.com

Year founded:2008

Number of employees: 160

Number of food customers: 10+

Solution name(s): Actiw Systems, automated ultra high density dynamic warehouses, and Actiw LoadPlate, automated loading systems for standard cargo space

Worth noting: Actiw Oy is a Finnish company that has focused on the design, sale and project deliveries of automated material handling systems for several decades. The company has shown its competence in dozens of projects around the world and subscribes to the mission, “Full automation from production to road.”

 

AFS TechnologiesAFS Technologies, Phoenix, AZ

Web site: www.afsi.com

Year founded: 1986

Number of employees: 250

Number of food customers: 1,200

Solution name(s): AFS ERP, AFS OMS, Priya Enterprise WMS, Priya Standard WMS, AFS Web, Discovery for Distributors, Discovery for Manufacturers, AFS Financials, AFS Replenish, AFS Data Exchange, Priya WMS for 3pL, AFS Laptop, AFS Mobile, Interactive Product Master, GenWeb, EasyOperator, PROFILE Product Information Database

Worth noting: “The major challenges facing the foodservice industry today include regulatory compliance initiatives, food safety and traceability regulations, product quality, customer satisfaction, the ever changing face of consumer demands and diminishing margins in a tough economy. Today’s successful foodservice organization is turning to technology to bridge the gap between profit and expense.”

 

Airclic, Philadelphia, PA

Web site: www.airclic.com

Year founded: 1999

Number of employees: 63

Number of food customers: 6

Solution name(s): Food Perform

Worth noting:Airclic’s Food Perform® is a comprehensive, SaaS-based mobile supply chain product for delivery and collection in the foodservice industry. Reliably connecting drivers on the road via mobile handheld devices to operations staff and computer-based information systems in the back office, Food Perform® automates the business transactions that occur in delivery and logistics operations.”

 

Aldata, Helsinki, Finland

Web site: www.aldata.com

Year founded: 1988

Number of employees: 550

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): Analytics & Visibility; Category Management, Range & Space Planning; Forecasting & Replenishment; Loyalty & Digital Marketing; Master Data Management; Safety & Traceability; Store Operations & POS; Supplier Management & Buying; Supply Chain Management; Warehousing & Transportation; and Voice Directed Warehousing

Worth noting: “Aldata is a global leader in retail and distribution optimization. Our software and service solutions help retailers, distributors and manufacturers dramatically improve their business performance. We optimize categories, space, supply, logistics, and consumer engagement to increase our customers’ revenue and margins, reduce time, cost and waste, and enhance on-shelf availability, service, and retention.”

 

ALK Technologies, Princeton, NJ

Web site: www.alk.com

Year founded: 1981

Number of employees: 175

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): PC*MILER, CoPilot Truck

Worth noting: “ALK’s PC*MILER routing, mileage and mapping solutions are depended on by transportation, logistics and manufacturing companies worldwide. Our award-winning CoPilot Live GPS software is the navigation services platform of choice for fleets, mobile operators, hardware OEMs, systems integrators and professional drivers globally.”

 

AvercastAvercast, Rexburg, ID

Web site: www.avercast.com

Year founded: 2008

Number of employees: 42

Number of food customers: 25

Solution name(s): Avercast Business Forecasting, Avercast Supply Planning, Avercast Sales & Operations Planning

Worth noting:Avercast has done very well with mid-sized companies in food and beverage production, but we are also a good fit for larger global companies.”

 

Barcoding, Inc., Baltimore, MD

Web site: www.barcoding.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 60+

Number of food customers: 20+

Solution name(s): Comprehensive Supply Chain Solutions

Worth noting:Barcoding provides software, hardware, and support services for food wholesalers and distributors. Our software and hardware solutions utilize automatic identification data capture (AIDC) to give users end-to-end visibility into the supply chain. By automating data collection with bar code, mobile, wireless, and RFID devices, food distributors can trace and control inventory in the warehouse and in the field.”

 

Blue Sky TechnologiesBlue Sky Technologies, Charlotte, NC

Web site: www.blueskytech.com

Year founded: 2008

Number of employees: 10

Number of food customers: 35

Solution name(s): Insight - Supply Chain Visibility Software

Worth noting: “Food logistics companies have highly complex supply chains, yet many do not have Web-based, dashboard style insight into their key performance activities and overall supply chain operations. Blue Sky’s Insight product provides real-time, exception based visibility into issues as they arise, allowing managers and executives to get their operations back on track immediately.”

 

Cadec GlobalCadec Global, Manchester, NH

Web site: www.cadec.com

Year founded: 1976

Number of employees: 55

Number of food customers: 65+

Solution name(s): Mobius TTS, PowerVue

Worth noting:Cadec Global helps extend supply chain into truck cabs, monitoring driver behavior related to speeding, sudden decels, excessive idling, and off-route driving to improve safety and reduce fuel consumption. Real-time cold chain management also helps preserve food during the transportation process.”

 

Cadre Technologies, Denver, CO

Web site: www.cadretech.com

Year founded: 2006

Number of employees: 40

Number of food customers: 50+

Solution name(s): Cadence WMS, Accuplus WMS, LogiView Supply Chain Visibility Suite

Worth noting: “One of the biggest issues for anyone dealing with food (or other perishable products) is the issue of recall. It is critical for companies to be able to identify and act upon problems in an immediate fashion to prevent bad product from reaching the end user. Cadre’s ‘containment’ functionality provides immediate feedback to identify where product is in the supply chain based on a date code, serial number, pallet ID, or other identifying marks. Once identified, procedures are driven by the application to ensure that the product is contained and that anyone with that product (carriers, warehouse, etc.) is made aware of potential issues.”

 

CAMS SoftwareCAMS Software, New Westminster, B.C., Canada

Web site: www.camspro.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 14

Number of food customers: 87

Solution name(s): CAMS Professional, CAMS Profiler, CAMS Progress, CAMS Pospero, Backhaul Optimization, Salvage Optimization, Resource Optimization

Worth noting:CAMS Software is the leading supplier of dispatch and driver payroll software to the grocery industry. Every day across the U.S., more grocery trucks are dispatched using CAMS software than any other product. CAMS was designed and developed exclusively for the grocery industry and is not used outside of the sector.”

 

CaseStackCaseStack, Santa Monica, CA

Web site: www.casestack.com

Year founded: 1999

Number of employees: 150-200

Number of food customers: 200

Solution name(s): CaseStack offers transportation management and warehousing services along with a Retailer Consolidation Program

Worth noting:CaseStack provides full transparency to clients with their Web-based technology platform. Our sustainability efforts include ‘consolidating to retail’ services, a Delivered Green Program, participating in EPA’s SmartWay as a transportation partner, and working to eliminate supply chain waste.”

 

Cass Information Systems, Inc.Cass Information Systems, Inc., Bridgeton, MO

Web site: www.cassinfo.com

Year founded: 1906

Number of employees: 1,000

Number of food customers: 20+

Solution name(s): Transportation Expense Management through freight invoice audit payment and business intelligence services

Worth noting: “Cass is the leading provider of freight audit, payment, and business intelligence services, leveraging over 50 years of experience in providing solutions to major corporations having complex transportation payment and information needs. By understanding our customers’ critical transportation and accounting processes, we provide customized business intelligence solutions that help create a competitive advantage through reduced costs, increased efficiency, and better decision making capability.”

 

CDC Software, Shanghai, China

Web site: www.cdcsoftware.com

Year founded: 2002

Number of employees: 1,400

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): Ross ERP, CDC Factory, CDC Supply Chain, Pivotal CRM

Worth noting:CDC Software facilitates compliance, improves traceability, and provides the ability to perform mock recalls. Our solutions also streamline the supply chain for faster deliveries and improves plant performance to increase yields and improve data accuracy.”

 

C.H. Robinson WorldwideC.H. Robinson Worldwide, Eden Prairie, MN

Web site: www.chrobinson.com

Year founded: 1905

Number of employees: 8,013

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): Managed TMS® provides shippers with a combination of TMS software (SaaS) and managed services that enable both immediate and sustained cost savings throughout their transportation networks. Core components of this service include Six Sigma-based process engineering, advanced TMS technology, and onsite TMC power users, who serve as an extension of the client’s dedicated staff. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. offers Managed TMS services through TMC, a global division with offices in Chicago, Illinois, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and Shanghai

Worth noting: “Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. is a global provider of multimodal logistics services, fresh produce sourcing, and information services to 36,000 customers through a network of more than 230 offices and over 8,000 employees around the world. The company works with 49,000 transportation providers worldwide. C.H. Robinson is a Fortune 500 company and had annual revenues of $9.3 billion in 2010.”

 

CHEP, Orlando, FL

Web site: www.chep.com

Year founded: 1955

Number of employees: 7,500

Number of food customers: 3,500

Solution name(s): CHEP Pallet Pooling

Worth noting: “CHEP partners with customers to develop pooling solutions that ensure reduced product damage, offer enhanced delivery efficiencies, eliminate waste and reduce supply chain costs, while adding measurable value. Manufacturers using the CHEP program eliminate the purchase and repair of white wood pallets, as well as other costs associated with pallet exchange systems, reduce product damage and unsaleables, and improve customer and carrier relations.”

 

CombineNetCombineNet, Pittsburgh, PA

Web site: www.combinenet.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 80

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): CombineNet ASAP for E-Sourcing

Worth noting: “Commodity price volatility is an ongoing challenge for food manufacturers and foodservice companies, as these have a direct impact on the cost of the final product being delivered to the customer. The ongoing price fluctuations of grain, corn, proteins, and even fuel, have food supply chains in a constant search mode for identifying areas of cost reduction to maintain profit margins without resorting to price increases for the customer. CombineNet ASAP helps these organizations by enabling them to conduct sourcing events that go beyond the traditional price per item approach to sourcing strategies.”

 

Container and Pooling Solutions (CAPS), Livonia, MI

Web site: www.usecaps.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 40

Number of food customers: 228

Solution name(s): CAPS-TRAC™ Suite – Reusable asset tracking and management, CAPS-315 tote rental (trip or term rental of plastic collapsible IBCs); CAPS 48x40x32 Dry IBC (trip or term rental of plastic collapsible IBCs); CHEP Intercon (trip or term rental of plastic collapsible IBCs); CHEP Unicon (trip or term rental of metal collapsible IBCs); CAPS One-Way 275-gallon corrugated tote for shipping liquids; and Lifecycle Management Solutions – Cleaning, Repair, and Recycling

Worth noting: “Companies best suited to work with CAPS include manufacturers who ship or receive non-hazardous bulk liquids in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. CAPS provides B2B solutions for a variety of companies ranging from large Fortune 100 companies to smaller independently owned suppliers and packagers. We work with food, beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, non-hazardous specialty chemical and general manufacturing companies.”

 

Corcentric, McLean, VA

Web site: www.corcentric.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 130

Number of food customers: 300

Solution name(s): Accounts Payable automation

Worth noting:Corcentric is a leader in financial process automation, specializing in Accounts Payable automation and imaging, Accounts Payable outsourcing and AP workflow automation solutions. We maximize ease of use and minimize risk with a configurable, cloud-architected Software as a Service (SaaS) model that incorporates advanced imaging technology, best practice workflows, simple supplier connections, Accounts Payable business process outsourcing (BPO), and seamless ERP integration.”

 

Dairy.comDairy.com, Plano, TX

Web site: www.dairy.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 52

Number of food customers: 200+

Solution name(s): The Dairy.com suite of Software-as-a-Service solutions is comprised of Milk Solutions, Commodities Trading Exchange, and Transportation Market

Worth noting: “Transportation is one of our primary areas of focus. Through our secure, always-available online marketplace, the dairy industry can gain instant insight into transportation supply and demand and easily post, negotiate, and accept load offers. Hundreds of loads of fluid product movements take place on Dairy.com each week, providing a significant source of potential revenue for the food-grade tanker industry.”

 

Datex, Clearwater, FL

Web site: www.datexcorp.com

Year founded: 1978

Number of employees: 85

Number of food customers: 650

Solution name(s): Footprint WMS; Footprint 3PL WMS; Footprint YMS; Footprint TMS; and Footprint FMS

Worth noting:Datex Supply Chain solutions provide real time information visibility, detailed LOT, SKU, UPC and ingredient track and trace; streamlined efficiency; product transformation; and cartonization.”

 

Demand SolutionsDemand Solutions, St. Louis, MO

Web site: www.demandsolutions.com

Year founded: 1985

Number of employees: 100+

Number of food customers: 69

Solution name(s): Forecast Management, Requirements Planning, Sales & Operations Planning, Advanced Planning & Scheduling, Retail Planning, and Collaboration

Worth noting:Demand Solutions provides platforms that are a perfect fit for both small- and mid-sized businesses and enterprise level businesses. Our key business types are manufacturers and distributors as well as retail.”

 

DEMATICDEMATIC, Grand Rapids, MI

Web site: www.dematic.us

Year founded: 1939

Number of employees: 3,000

Number of food customers: 40

Solution name(s): Warehouse Control Systems, Voice & light directed activities, Mixed case palletizing, Split case picking, Automated storage & staging, and Slow moving inventory solutions

Worth noting: “A significant issue in the food and beverage industry is the increasing complexity of receiving, storing, picking and shipping product. Food distributors are seeking new ways to provide improved logistics performance levels at a lower cost. Some of the drivers include SKU proliferation, servicing multi-format retailing, building mixed case pallets, space utilization, transportation costs, inventory accuracy, order accuracy, labor costs, as well as health and safety issues for employees.”

 

Descartes Systems Group, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Web site: www.descartes.com

Year founded: 1981

Number of employees: 500+

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): Descartes Mobile Resource Management, Descartes Supply Chain Execution, Descartes Global Trade Compliance, Descartes Transportation Management, and Descartes Routing Planning and Schedule

Worth noting: “Descartes is delivering results today for global organizations that operate logistics intensive businesses and require visibility and control over multi-channel networks of trading partners and business processes. We deliver the fastest time to value and drive tangible improvements in productivity, performance and customer service across our entire customer base.”

 

Evans Transportation Services, Inc., Brookfiel

Year founded: 1985

Number of employees: 61

Number of food customers: 15

Solution name(s): N/A

Worth noting: “Best fits are those food companies, whether it’s a single or multiple locations, looking to streamline their supply chain process with real-time visibility throughout the supply chain network.”

 

Extendata, Englewood, CO

Web site: www.extendata.com

Year founded: 2002

Number of employees: 25

Number of food customers: 20

Solution name(s): Mobile Conductor

Worth noting: “The Mobile Conductor software solution for both Proof of Delivery and Direct Store Delivery is deployed in small fleets from 5 users to companies with hundreds of routes. We have a ‘premise-bases’ solution that can be purchased/installed for larger fleets, and a Software-as-a-Service model that works well for smaller fleets.”

 

Food Decision Software, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Web site: www.fooddecisionsoftware.com

Year founded: 1978

Number of employees: 10

Number of food customers: 400

Solution name(s): WinFDS, WinFDS SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)

Worth noting: “Although the requirement for all food distributors and manufacturers to have a food recall plan and to be able to track products back one source and forward one source has been regulated since 2002 through the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act, many still do not have a plan in place or the ability to locate suspect products. With the signing of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in January 2011, food distributors and manufacturers are starting to panic to ensure they are prepared in the event of a visit from the their regulating agency, or worse, have a true recall situation on their hands.”

 

FoodLink Online, Los Gatos, CA

Web site: www.foodlink.net

Year founded: 1999

Number of employees: 40

Number of food customers: 2000+

Solution name(s): FoodLink for Buyers, FoodLink for Suppliers, FoodLink FreshBuys, and FoodLink DirectConnect

Worth noting: “FoodLink is the network for fresh food, connecting the perishable goods supply chain from the farm to the customer with an online network representing more than 2,000 companies including grower-shippers, carriers, retail grocers and wholesalers. With FoodLink, retailers and wholesalers efficiently source the freshest and safest foods from trusted suppliers through a single online platform, and suppliers improve sales to important trading partners.”

 

GENCO ATC, Pittsburgh, PA

Web site www.genco.com

Year founded: 1898

Number of employees: 10,000

Number of food customers: 18

Solution name(s): Inbound Logistics; Distribution; Fulfillment; Packaging & Kitting; Transportation Management; Systems Integration; Returns Processing & Disposition; Test, Repair, Refurbish; and Product Liquidation

Worth noting: “Reducing the total cost of product ownership throughout the product lifecycle is one of the biggest challenges facing grocery and foodservice distributors and manufacturers. Our solution involves employing a Product Lifecycle approach that integrates technology advancements in both material handling and warehouse management systems with proven logistics practices and Lean Six Sigma.”

 

GT Nexus, Oakland, CA

Web site: www.gtnexus.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 450

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): GT Nexus Cloud Supply Chain Platform

Worth noting: “Our core customer base in the food industry is comprised of the large manufactures. Like many companies with global supply chains, they struggle with managing the inventory and information flows between their operations and their partners. They have tried to solve this with software, but that has failed because ‘license and install’ software systems are designed to automate processes within a single company, not between companies. Cloud technology solves this by putting a neutral, informational replica of the physical supply chain up in the sky, online in the cloud. Similar to the way Facebook changed the way social networks communicate and share information, cloud is doing the same thing for supply chain. GT Nexus is the cloud supply chain platform that supports leaders across industry verticals to control product and information flows between suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, banks, and customers.”

 

HAVI Global SolutionsHAVI Global Solutions, Downers Grove, IL

Web site: www.havigs.com

Year founded: 1975

Number of employees: 500

Number of food customers: 20

Solution name(s): Demand Planning, Optimization, Business Analytics, Packaging Services, Promotions Management

Worth noting: “One of the biggest challenges manufacturers, distributors, and retailers face is managing the delicate balance of supply and demand. Too much inventory, and you see markdowns and obsolete inventory. Too little, and you see lost sales and dissatisfied customers. We have developed an integrated platform to manage our customers’ supply chains, enabling visibility and collaborative planning across supply chain partners.”

 

HighJump SoftwareHighJump Software, Eden Prairie, MN

Web site: www.highjump.com

Year founded: 1983

Number of employees: 300+

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): HighJump Supply Chain Advantage Suite

Worth noting: “More than 4,500 customers worldwide have transformed their supply chains using HighJump Software. Gartner reports that HighJump customer references call attention to HighJump’s flexibility and willingness to establish a partnership-type relationship with customers.”

 

InfinityQS International, Chantilly, VA

Web site: www.infinityqs.com

Year founded: 1989

Number of employees: 75+

Number of food customers: 100+

Solution name(s): ProFicient™ SPC Software

Worth noting: “The greatest challenge facing today’s grocery and foodservice distributors and manufacturers is securing the global supply chain. With the number of recalls occurring—from ground turkey and seafood, to bean sprouts and lettuce—it is imperative that the entire food industry focus on increasing the safety and quality of food that it produces by leveraging technology at all levels from farm to fork.”

 

InmarInmar, Winston-Salem, NC

Web site: www.inmar.com

Year founded: 1980

Number of employees: 4,200

Number of food customers: 200+

Solution name(s): Supply Chain, Consumer Marketing, Business Intelligence, Financial Settlement, Risk Management

Worth noting: “The supply chain is all about ensuring that the right product is at the right place at the right time. In a struggling economy, doing so in the most efficient and cost effective manner becomes even more critical and can even determine whether or not a company will survive. Our clients have shared their reverse logistics goals as Inventory Management, Visibility and/or Actionable Information, Supply Chain Integrity, Regulatory Requirements Compliance and Environmental Sustainability. Technology plays a critical role in helping companies achieve these goals.”

 

InMotion Global, St. Petersburg, FL

Web site: www.inmotionglobal.com

Year founded: 2002

Number of employees: 56

Number of food customers: 8

Solution name(s): InMotion Global TMS

Worth noting: “Because our TMS is 100 percent free, we eliminate the high costs involved in purchasing a Transportation Management System, including down time during complex implementations and lost time while training employees on overly complicated, non-intuitive software. IMG is an integrated, one-stop solution providing dispatching, advances & settlements, POD scanning, appointment setting, and tracking & tracing; 24/7 Web portal access and interactive voice response system.”

 

IntelleflexIntelleflex, Santa Clara, CA

Web site: www.intelleflex.com

Year founded: 2003

Number of employees: 34

Number of food customers: 4

Solution name(s): Intelleflex Fresh Produce Solution

Worth noting:Intelleflex offers the fresh produce industry on-demand visibility for tracking and monitoring the temperature and condition of fresh produce end-to-end—from the field to the store shelf and even at intermediate steps such as in handoff from shipper to warehouse—thus reducing waste, improving product quality, maximizing shelf life and increasing customer satisfaction.”

 

Intermec, Everett, WA

Web site: www.intermec.com

Year founded: 1966

Number of employees: 2,000

Number of food customers: 500+

Solution name(s): Mobility and printing solutions for distribution centers and field service applications

Worth noting: “One of the biggest challenges facing today’s grocery and food service distributors and manufacturers is dealing with an ever-increasing number of delivery locations with increasing complexity. Because of this, the need for supreme efficiency is at an all-time high. Companies must look for solutions that offer a reduction in errors while at the same time offering increased staff productivity and a high-rate of customer satisfaction.”

 

JDA SoftwareJDA Software, Scottsdale, AZ

Web site: www.jda.com

Year founded: 1988

Number of employees: 3,000

Number of food customers: 700

Solution name(s): Demand Forecasting and Management, Factory Planning & Scheduling, Network Design and Inventory Optimization, Price & Promotion Management, Replenishment & Fulfillment, Sales and Operations Planning, Space & Category Management Supplier Relationship Management, Supply Chain Planning, Transportation & Logistics Management

Worth noting: “Our planning, optimization and execution solutions span the entire supply chain from materials to the consumer, leveraging the powerful heritage and knowledge capital of acquired market leaders including i2 Technologies, Manugistics, E3, Intactix, and Arthur.”

 

LANSA, Downers Grove, IL

Web site: www.lansa.com

Year founded: 1987

Number of employees: 225

Number of food customers: 330

Solution name(s): LANSA Data Sync Direct

Worth noting: “Both retailers and suppliers in the food and beverage sector need a more traceable supply chain in order to respond to consumer safety issues, prompting more companies to adopt GS1 standards. LANSA Data Sync Direct is the product that more major manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the U.S. use to most efficiently implement GS1 standardized product information via the GDSN (Global Data Synchronization Network) working with their ERP or MDM/PIM applications.”

 

LeanLogistics, Inc., Holland, MI

Web site: www.leanlogistics.com

Year founded: 1999

Number of employees: 150

Number of food customers: 30

Solution name(s): OnDemand TMS, LeanSource, LeanDex, LeanFleet

Worth noting: “On-Demand TMS, a true SaaS transportation management system, provides complete daily planning, execution, settlement functions, as well as periodic strategic procurement events. Additionally, companies have access to the LeanLogistics Transportation Network, which provides collaborative opportunities, leading to supplier inbound management, appointment scheduling, business intelligence and reporting capabilities not available in standalone TMS offerings.”

 

Locus TraxxLocus Traxx, Jupiter, FL

Web site: www.locustraxx.com

Year founded: 2005

Number of employees: N/A

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): OverSight continuous monitoring and reporting system, SmartTraxx, SmartTraxx Portable, SmartTag wireless sensors

Worth noting: “In order to expand consumption of their fresh products, our customers need to make sure that the products they ship arrive at their freshest and safest. By offering both permanent and reusable continuous shipment monitoring options, we make it possible for any company to ensure the freshness and safety of any shipment through continuous information from the truck on shipment temperature, security and location. Our Intelligent Alert text and email messages put the right information in the hands of the right people so they can prevent shipment damage. Online access to maps, graphs and reports for every shipment give our customers immediate access to the shipment data they need for rapid dispute resolution or business analysis.”

 

LogilityLogility, Atlanta, GA

Web site: www.logility.com

Year founded: 1996

Number of employees: 140

Number of food customers: 172

Solution name(s): Logility Voyager Solutions

Worth noting:Logility Voyager Solutions enable customers to increase supply chain visibility, reduce inventory; better leverage demand signals from customers and distributors to create more precise demand plans; strengthen S&OP; actively manage product portfolios while building stronger collaboration with partners and suppliers; and optimize inventory, transportation and logistics planning to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction with higher on-time deliver rates.”

 

Logistix SolutionsLogistix Solutions, Herndon, VA

Web site: www.logistixsolutions.com

Year founded: 2006

Number of employees: 20

Number of food customers: 20

Solution name(s): Logistix Distribution Network Planning, Logistix RS Routing and Scheduling, Logistix TS Truckload Scheduling, Logistix D/VST Driver/Vehicle Scheduling

Worth noting: “Many of our customers in the food and beverage industry have taken advantage of opportunities and experienced significant new growth as well as challenges from recent mergers and acquisitions creating redundant physical assets, excess costs and overly complex/overlapping logistics operations. Logistix Solutions has provided software solutions and consulting services to identify duplicate warehouses, overlapping transit lanes, redundant suppliers and excess inventory and then to optimize these logistics operations contributing to significant cost reduction.”

 

LTW Intralogistics, Emigsville, PA

Web site: www.ltwusa.com

Year founded: 1981

Number of employees: 175

Number of food customers: 190

Solution name(s): AS/RS, Warehouse Automation, Stacker Cranes

Worth noting:LTW Intralogistics helps companies reduce overhead and product damage, while increasing efficiency and energy savings.”

 

Lucas Systems, Wexford, PA

Web site: www.lucasware.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 56

Number of food customers: 15

Solution name(s): Jennifer VoicePlus

Worth noting: “With ever-increasing pressure on margins, food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers need to reduce distribution costs, while continually improving product track and trace capabilities throughout the supply chain. Jennifer helps food industry companies improve labor productivity, reduce errors and comply with ever-more stringent tracking requirements without adding to cost.”

 

LXE (now part of Honeywell), Norcross, GA

Web site: www.lxe.com

Year founded: 1968

Number of employees: 350

Number of food customers: 500+

Solution name(s): Thor Vehicle Mount Computer, Marathon Field Computer

Worth noting: LXE manufactures rugged mobile computers for workers in demanding conditions. LXE’s vehicle-mount, handheld, and wearable computers provide reliable, versatile data capture options for some of the world’s largest and most respected food providers. Our pioneering cold-temp portfolio is trusted by many of the world’s largest cold storage logistics companies.”

 

Made4netMade4net, Hackensack, NJ

Web site: www.made4net.com

Year founded: 2005

Number of employees: 40

Number of food customers: 100

Solution name(s): SCExpert, WarehouseExpert, LaborExpert, YardExpert, RoutingExpert

Worth noting:Made4net’s solutions optimize the various links in the supply chain, including the optimization of resource and labor productivity in the warehouse, handling and managing various product dynamic attributes, QC processes, traceability, better shelf life cycles, all the way to optimization of routes and increasing savings in distribution resources and fuel consumption.”

 

Manhattan Associates, Atlanta, GA

Web site: www.manh.com

Year founded: 1990

Number of employees: 2000

Number of food customers: 100

Solution name(s): Manhattan SCOPE (Supply Chain Optimization from Planning to Execution) solution

Worth noting: “Manhattan Associate’s SCOPE uses unrivaled predictive and algorithmic technology to dynamically and optimally refine supply chain operations in real time as internal or external conditions change. It breaks down functional silos to create Whole Chain Awareness™—holistic, end-to-end supply chain visibility and insight that prevents decisions in one supply chain operational area unknowingly impacting another area; and identifying and optimizing opportunities across the entire supply chain for improved performance.”

 

MercuryGateMercuryGate, Cary, NC

Web site: www.mercurygate.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 75

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): MercuryGate TMS

Worth noting: “MercuryGate helps companies reduce transportation costs through load consolidation, carrier selection, and process improvement. Most direct customers are mid-sized shippers with a transportation spend of less than $500 million per year. The best fit is those that require the use of a full-function, multi-modal transportation planning and execution application.”

 

Mettler-Toledo, Columbus, OH (North America HQ)

Web site: www.mt.com

Year founded: 1901

Number of employees: 10,000

Number of food customers: 3,000+

Solution name(s): PFA569lift

Worth noting: “With the new food safety regulations, hygienically-designed equipment is of the utmost importance. The PFA569lift floor scale simplifies washdown in hygienic applications. Its easy-to-lift platform allows quick access to the interior of the scale for thorough cleaning. One person can lift the platform manually. Made entirely of stainless steel, the PFA569lift floor scale is durable enough to provide accurate, repeatable weighing while standing up to constant use in wet and corrosive environments. A versatile design allows installation in a pit or on top of the floor. Adjustable feet make it easy to level the scale on uneven floors or when moving the scale to a new location.”

 

Motorola Solutions, Schaumburg, IL

Web site: www.motorolasolutions.com

Year founded: 1928

Number of employees: 64,000

Number of food customers: 1,150+

Solution name(s): N/A

Worth noting:Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communication solutions and services for enterprise and government customers. Through leading-edge innovation and communications technology, it is a global leader that enables its customers to be their best in the moments that matter.”

 

Movement TechnologiesMovement Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD

Web site: www.movementtechnologies.com

Year founded: 2009

Number of employees: 25

Number of food customers: 2

Solution name(s): Movement Technologies’ Transportation Management System, Move BID, MoveDOCK, MoveRATE, MoveFLEET

Worth noting: “Today’s biggest challenge facing the food service industry is the fear of change. As a commodity, transportation costs are only increasing and the food service industry is going to need to adapt to these cost increases with better, more efficient processes and systems. Movement Technologies offers proven business and technology solutions that automate, centralize, and monitor the supply chain process...helping companies to cut hard and soft costs, save time, and prepare for the 21st Century.”

 

Multisorb Technologies, Buffalo, NY

Web site: www.multisorb.com

Year founded: 1961

Number of employees: N/A

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): FreshPax® Oxygen Absorbing Packets are one of Multisorb’s most popular Drop-In solutions for absorbing oxygen. FreshPax® packets have been proven to extend the shelf life of oxygen-sensitive products, resulting in the reduction of preservatives and the retention of flavors, color, aroma, and quality

Worth noting: “As the world leader in active packaging technology, Multisorb Technologies has developed innovative sorbent solutions for a wide range of applications for the healthcare, food and beverage, electronics, transportation, storage, and government industries. Our Drop-In, Fit-In, and Built-In sorbent solutions are designed to meet specific application requirements. Our highly-trained applications engineers and R&D scientists will collaborate with you to provide a unique, cost-effective solution to manage moisture, oxygen, odor, hydrocarbons, volatiles, and/or other substances that can adversely affect the shelf life and integrity of your product.”

 

NECS, Inc., Madison, CT

Web site: www.necs.com

Year founded: 1987

Number of employees: 16

Number of food customers: 1,500

Solution name(s): entree Food Distribution Software, entree.NET Online Ordering, Electronic Order Pad (iPad/Android Mobile App)

Worth noting: “Some of the biggest challenges facing our industry include adherence to the Bio-Terrorism Act of 2002, adaption of the GS1 bar code standard, and automation of the warehouse.”

 

Next Generation Logistics, Inverness, IL

Web site: www.nextgeneration.com

Year founded: 1988

Number of employees: 15

Number of food customers: 150

Solution name(s): FreightMaster TMS

Worth noting: “FreightMaster TMS has integrated features that allow corporations to reduce their carbon footprint by minimizing miles through route optimization and building efficient routes and the selection and utilization of carriers that have high EPA SmartWay scores.”

 

Next View Software, Orange, CA

Web site: www.nextviewsoftware.com

Year founded: 1997

Number of employees: 10

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): SaaS Warehouse Management System, SaaS Labor Management System

Worth noting:“Our vision is that Next View will provide innovative, functionally and technologically advanced systems to the supply chain software market aimed at helping our customers achieve operational and IT excellence for their supply chain initiatives.”

 

OptricityOptricity, Research Triangle Park, NC

Web site: www.optricity.com

Year founded: 2005

Number of employees: 9

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): OptiSlot DC™, OptiProfile™

Worth noting: Optricity serves warehousing and distribution operations with any combination of high velocity products, dynamic product mixes, frequent SKU changes, and significant seasonal or promotional influences. Customers seek to cut costs and optimize operations, particularly in slotting, profiling, or in areas where our RASSQ (routing, assignment, sequencing, scheduling and queuing) engines can be applied to solve unique supply chain problems.”

 

Oracle, Redwood Shores, CA

Web site: www.oracle.com

Year founded: 1977

Number of employees: 104,500

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): Oracle Demantra Demand Management, Oracle Transportation Management, Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle JDE Enterprise One, Oracle Suppy Chain Management Solution, Oracle Warehouse Management

Worth noting: “Volatile commodity pricing, rising cost of fuel and transportation costs, and a downturn in consumer spending are among the biggest challenges facing the industry.”

 

ORTEC, Atlanta, GA

Web site: www.ortec.com

Year founded: N/A

Number of employees: N/A

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): ORTEC’s solutions focus on the broad segments of Pallet and Load Building, and Routing and Scheduling

Worth noting:ORTEC is a leading provider of advanced planning and optimization software solutions and consulting services. Our solutions result in optimized fleet routing and dispatch, vehicle and pallet loading, workforce scheduling, delivery forecasting and network planning. ORTEC provides best-of-breed, custom made and SAP® certified and embedded solutions, supported by strategic partnerships.”

 

PeopleNetPeopleNet, Minnetonka, MN

Web site: www.peoplenetonline.com

Year founded: 1994

Number of employees: 225

Number of food customers: 200+

Solution name(s): PeopleNet Driver Terminal, PeopleNet BLU, PeopleNet TABLET

Worth noting: “One of the largest supply chain challenges facing today’s grocery and foodservice distributors is to deliver product accurately and on time. With PeopleNet onboard, fleets are able to increase the efficiency of stops and improve supply chain communication through Automated Workflow messages, which are generated automatically based on a geo-fence that’s created around a location or event; gain remote temperature management of reefer units; minimize dispatch-to-driver calls with instructions sent to the driver for viewing upon arrival at pick-up and delivery locations, allowing drivers to skip the paperwork and key billing information into a custom form in the mobile communications device and send it to the back office; and with Automatic Vehicle Location, predict delivery times.”

 

PINC Solutions, Berkeley, CA

Web site: www.pincsolutions.com

Year founded: 2004

Number of employees: 40+

Number of food customers: 5

Solution name(s): Yard Hound – Advanced Yard Management

Worth noting:PINC Solutions is the leading provider of real time supply chain asset visibility and advanced yard management solutions, with Fortune 500 customers in manufacturing, retail, logistics, and transportation sectors.”

 

Plex Systems, Auburn Hills, MI

Web site: www.plex.com

Year founded: 1995

Number of employees: 187

Number of food customers: 6

Solution name(s): Plex Online

Worth noting: “Food manufacturers around the world are facing new challenges and pressures to improve their safety and quality control processes. There’s no better time than now for them to adopt the best safety and traceability practices and tools from their counterparts in other manufacturing industries. Plex Online helps food manufacturing pioneers meet rigorous safety, quality, and traceability requirements.”

 

ProCat Management Services, LLCProCat Management Services, LLC, West Berlin, NJ

Web site: www.procatms.com

Year founded: 2001

Number of employees: 14

Number of food customers: 150

Solution name(s): PickRight, ShipRight, TaxRight, ShowRight

Worth noting: “ProCat’s PickRight technology virtually eliminates order picking errors, improves picker productivity by 20 percent, and reduces new hire training time to less than 30 minutes. ProCat’s ShipRight provides route information, delivery verification, and electronic signature capture.”

 

Psion, London, UK

Web site: www.psion.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 1,000

Number of food customers: 100

Solution name(s): 7530 Handheld Device, 7535 Handheld Device, 8515 Vehicle Mounted Computer, 8530 Vehicle Mounted Computer, 8580/8590 Vehicle Mounted Computer

Worth noting:Psion provides the food industry with a resilient, rugged handheld solution for its logistics and overall warehouse management needs. Psion devices are also tough enough to withstand the food industry’s requirements for rugged devices that can withstand drops on the warehouse floor and low temperatures.”

 

RedPrairie, Alpharetta, GA

Web site: www.redprairie.com

Year founded: 1975

Number of employees: 1,600

Number of food customers: 100+

Solution name(s): For the food/beverage and food service industries, RedPrairie’s solutions include Inventory Management, TMS, WMS, Store Inventory Management, Recall Management, and Enterprise Workforce Management

Worth noting: “For more than 35 years, RedPrairie’s best-of-breed supply chain, workforce, and all-channel retail solutions have put commerce in motion for the world’s leading companies. Installed in over 60,000 customer sites across more than 50 countries, RedPrairie solutions adapt to help ensure visibility and collaboration between manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. RedPrairie is prepared to meet its customers’ current and future demands with multiple delivery options, flexible architecture, and 24/7 technical and customer support.”

 

Retalix Ltd., Plano, TX

Web site: www.retalix.com

Year founded: 1982

Number of employees: 1,200

Number of food customers: 400

Solution name(s): Retalix Power Enterprise Suite, Retalix Power Warehouse, Retalix Power Net, Retalix Power Sell, Retalix Power Menu, Retalix Mobile SFA (Sales Force Automation), Retalix Vendor Portal, Retalix Power Delivery, Retalix, Demand AnalytX, Retalix Transportation Optimization, Retalix Dock Scheduling, Retalix Yard Management

Worth noting: “Effective and efficient traceability is still one of the biggest challenges facing today’s grocery and foodservice distributors and manufacturers. As illustrated by several major recalls both in the U.S. and internationally this year, the stakes are high from both the food safety standpoint and the business perspective. Increased government regulations and industry requirements for product quality and traceability are driving food distributors worldwide to create more efficient and integrated supply chains. Distributors are gradually turning to technology providers like Retalix to help meet this demand.”

 

Retrotech Inc.Retrotech Inc., Victor, NY

Web site: www.retrotech.com

Year founded: 1985

Number of employees: 90

Number of food customers: 10-20

Solution name(s): ACTIV High Density Storage, Systems Integration, Project Management, Automated Materials Handling Retrofits and Modernizations

Worth noting: “Key problems solved with Retrotech include extending the service life of existing equipment; reviving equipment from defunct OEM or equipment no longer supported byOEM; improved space utilization; alignment of warehouse operations and goals with corporate strategy; designing a system that accounts for future growth; and designing a system the customer needs versus the one they want.”

 

Roadnet Technologies, Townson, MD

Web site: www.roadnet.com

Year founded: 1983

Number of employees: 160

Number of food customers: 830

Solution name(s): Roadnet Transportation Suite, Roadnet, Territory Planner, MobileCast, FleetLoader, Roadnet Telematics, Roadnet Info Center, Roadnet Performance Dashboard

Worth noting: “Companies using Roadnet Technologies’ tools can expect a savings of 5 to 15 percent in transportation related costs due to reductions in mileage and fuel, while increasing productivity. The applications empower customers to effectively manage delivery and distribution of products while improving service levels to their end-customer. Through greater cost savings and efficiencies, organizations have the ability to grow their business.”

 

Robocom, Farmingdale, NY

Web site: www.robocom.com

Year founded: 1982

Number of employees: 40

Number of food customers: 24

Solution name(s): Warehouse Management, Labor Management, Order Management, Voice Picking, and Transportation Optimizer

Worth noting: “Robocom is a provider of Supply Chain Execution software solutions. Our focus for nearly 30 years on Supply Chain Execution solutions has enabled our customers’ pursuit of warehousing and distribution operational excellence. The Robocom Team has a rich set of professional skills, extensive industry knowledge and strong technical expertise that will help your team to accomplish more in a shorter period of time.”

 

Ryan Systems, Canyon Lake, CA

Web site: www.ryansystems.com

Year founded: 2001

Number of employees: 5

Number of food customers: 4

Solution name(s): iFSS (Integrated Food Safety System), DCS (Delivery Control System)

Worth noting: “The biggest problem facing our industry is the 30 to 50 percent food yield losses due to short shelf lives, deliveries, and other food related issues (this is a world-wide problem). These food yield losses are also associated with 30 to 50 percent of waste related to fuel, land, pesticides, water used to grow non-conforming produce, or late delivery of products to market. The second largest issue has to do with assuring international food safety for imports and exports.”

 

Ryder Supply Chain Solutions, Miami, FL

Web site: www.ryderscs.com

Year founded: 1933

Number of employees: 17,617

Number of food customers: 51

Solution name(s): Control Tower, Value Added Services, Transportation Management, Dedicated Contract Carriage, Distribution Management, Cross Docking, Inbound Manufacturing Product Flow, Network Design, Reverse Logistics, Packaging, Cross Border, Origin/Destination Services

Worth noting: “Ryder Supply Chain Solutions can help address challenges such as supply chain inefficiency, limited supply chain visibility, product delivery accuracy, retail compliance, and order to cash cycle times.”

 

SAP Americas (a unit of SAP AG), Newtone Square, PA

Web site: www.sap.com

Year founded: 1972

Number of employees: 38,000

Number of food customers: 400+

Solution name(s): SAP ERP, SAP SCM, SAP CRM, SAP BI

Worth noting: “Up-to-date and accurate inventory records are more essential in a slow growth economy than ever before. They help with day-to-day operations as well as keeping food companies in compliance with local, state and federal regulations, and provide the fast and accurate records needed for a product recall. In addition, knowing which products and customers are profitable and which are not is also an essential decision making tool in the new normal.”

 

Schafer Systems International, Charlotte, NC

Web site: www.ssi-schaefer.us

Year founded: 1937

Number of employees: 9,000

Number of food customers: N/A

Solution name(s): Schaefer Case Picker (SCP), Schaefer Miniload Crane (SMC), Schaefer Quad Shuttle (SQS), Schaefer Orbiter System, Schaefer Mobile Racking, and Conveyor

Worth noting: “One of the biggest problems that grocery and food service distributors face is how they can get product out the door for the least amount of expenditure. With the growing cost of food, in order to stay competitive they need to be able to lower cost without lowering throughput and keeping the supply chain safe. Food distributors need to know that they are keeping the supply chain as safe and cost effective as possible for the customers, and their own well-being.”

 

ShipXpress, Jacksonville Beach, FL

Web site: www.shipxpress.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 85

Number of food customers: 6

Solution name(s): ShipX Trax, ShipX E-BOL, ShipX Rates, ShipX Portal, ShipX Shop, ShipX Accounting

Worth noting: “The Food industry is faced with the age old challenge of too much to do in too little time. Despite the tremendous spend on information technology, much of the information that supply chain executives need for making critical decisions is not accessible Company: Silvon Software, Westmont, IL

 

Silvon SoftwareSilvon Software, Westmont, IL

Web site: www.silvon.com

Year founded: 1987

Number of employees: 50

Number of food customers: 150

Solution name(s): Stratum

Worth noting: “The Silvon Stratum suite of operational planning, analysis and reporting applications is designed to help food manufacturers and distributors meet numerous challenges, including less predictable demand and supply, business-driven reporting, and demonstrating product category and promotional performance knowledge.”

 

SMC³, Peachtree City, GA

Web site: www.smc3.com

Year founded: 1935

Number of employees: 86

Number of food customers: 160

Solution name(s): CzarLite, RateWare XL, CarrierConnect XL, BidSense

Worth noting:SMC³ is the leading provider of data, technology and education as an integrated solution to the freight transportation community. SMC³ delivers its core competency—LTL pricing expertise—through collaborative pricing technology that supports end-to-end, ongoing predictability in shipper/3PL-carrier relationships. Best known for its CzarLite®, Bid$ense® and RateWare® solutions, the company serves more than 5,000 customers throughout North America, including shippers, carriers, logistics service providers and freight-payment companies. The company also partners with leading transportation software developers for complete interoperability.”

 

Software Logistechs, Toledo, OH

Web site: www.softwarelogistechs.com

Year founded: 1997

Number of employees: 5

Number of food customers: 10

Solution name(s): DC-Xpress WMS

Worth noting: “One key issue to today’s food/grocery distributors is the visibility and management of perishable inventory. Many product managers that hold this responsibility today are left in the dark. As a result, they cannot provide their customers with guaranteed shelf-life contracts or product becomes distressed and spoiled. DC-Xpress WMS solves this problem by automatically managing perishable inventory to inform product managers of inventory approaching distressed conditions.”

 

Sologlobe, Montreal, Canada

Web site: www.sologlobe.com

Year founded: 1997

Number of employees: 40

Number of food customers: 20

Solution name(s): Solochain WMS, Solochain MES

Worth noting: “With the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, traceability is an important challenge.”

 

SPS Commerce, Minneapolis, MN

Web site: www.spscommerce.com

Year founded: 1998

Number of employees: 425

Number of food customers: 6,000

Solution name(s): SPSCommerce.net, Trading Partner Integration, Trading Partner Intelligence, Trading Partner Enablement, Trading Partner Applications, Trading Partner Suppliers

Worth noting: “With more than 40,000 customers worldwide, SPS Commerce gives retail trading partners an intelligent way to manage and fulfill orders. SPS operates one of the industry’s largest trading partner integration centers, SPSCommerce.net. SPSCommerce.net includes the industry’s most extensive and up-to-date repository of EDI transaction maps and POS data from leading retailers, grocers and distributors, ensuring greater reliability, faster implementations, extensive supply chain visibility, and insight for customers.”

 

Supply Chain Intelligence, Cary, NC

Web site: www.scintelligence.com

Year founded: 2001

Number of employees: N/A

Number of food customers: 32

Solution name(s): iSaaS, SCI’s Intelligence Suite, Outbound Shipment Intelligence, Demand Distribution Intelligence, Inbound Shipment Intelligence, Inbound Dock Scheduling Intelligence, Order Matching Intelligence, Outbound Dock Scheduling Intelligence, Cross-dock Intelligence

Worth noting:Supply Chain Intelligence is a transportation logistics software company providing enterprise and subscription-based services based on a unique set of optimizers designed for the industries served. iSuite is a suite of products delivering optimal solutions for both inbound and outbound needs.”

 

Supply Chain Optimizers, Getzville, NY

Web site: www.supplychainoptimizers.com

Year founded: 1986

Number of employees: 10

Number of food customers: 30

Solution name(s): Packaging optimization; operations and distribution network design and optimization; private fleet analysis; transportation reviews and cost reduction projects; and S&OP consulting

Worth noting: “The biggest challenge facing distributors and manufacturers in the grocery and food service areas is how to reduce both carbon footprint and rein in costs at the same time. The Supply Chain Optimizers’ packaging optimization and network design do both. By getting the packaging right, companies reduce costs of corrugate, labor, and transportation while reducing carbon emissions. The network optimization work reduces cost while reducing miles driven and the associated carbon impact—a win-win situation.”

 

SwisslogSwisslog, Newport News, VA

Web site: www.swisslog.com

Year founded: 1898

Number of employees: 2,200

Number of food customers: 50

Solution name(s): A variety of material handling solutions for warehouses and distribution centers providing inventory and order fulfillment solutions

Worth noting: “One of the biggest challenges facing the food and beverage sector is the overall organization of their distribution facilities—the efficient and accurate storage and order fulfillment of food items.”

 

Syntelic Solutions CorporationSyntelic Solutions Corporation, Germantown, MD

Web site: www.syntelic.com

Year founded: 1996

Number of employees: 13

Number of food customers: 10

Solution name(s): Syntelic Enterprise

Worth noting: “Grocery and food service distribution is a high volume, low margin proposition, where inefficiencies in any area reduce profitability, i.e. damaged goods, miss-picks, wasted minutes in loading and unloading trucks, and out of route miles. Customer service—meeting delivery time windows, and expectations—is also important to food service distributors. As operations grow more complex, and every aspect of supply chain operations is considered for optimization, the sheer amount of data to be evaluated can be overwhelming. Software systems, unless fully integrated, create silos of data and mask opportunities to use supply chain data for decisions that squeeze out new cost savings and optimize operations at every turn.”

 

TAKE Solutions, Princeton, NJ

Web site: www.takesolutions.com/scm

Year founded: 2001

Number of employees: 1,100

Number of food customers: 20+

Solution name(s): Gemini Data Collection & OneSCM Collaboration Suite

Worth noting: “TAKE helps customers automate their inventory, manufacturing, and distribution processes through data collection to achieve lot traceability, inventory accuracy, cost of goods sold processes, reduced raw material shortages, and removal of excess inventory and inefficient data entry from their system.”

 

Teradata, Dayton, OH

Web site: www.teradata.com

Year founded: 1979

Number of employees: 4,000

Number of food customers: 50

Solution name(s): Teradata Data Warehouse, DCM, SCI, CRM

Worth noting: “Key problems solved with Teradata’s solutions include customer service levels/OOS; markdowns and shrink; demand forecasting accuracy; promotion management effectiveness; store/DC demand synchronization; order forecast optimization and collaboration; and inventory management.”

 

Terra TechnologyTerra Technology, Norwalk, CT

Web site: www.terratechnology.com

Year founded: 2001

Number of employees: 103

Number of food customers: 8

Solution name(s): Multi-Enterprise Demand Sensing, Demand Sensing, Transportation Forecasting, Multi-Enterprise Inventory Optimization

Worth noting: “Terra Technology helps companies realize sales and profitability in unpredictable markets by analyzing daily demand signals from all echelons of the supply chain (including downstream data) to improve forecast accuracy, decrease inventory, improve on-shelf availability and reduce operational costs.”

 

TGW Logistics Group, Spring Lake, MI

Web site: www.tgw-group.com

Year founded: 1964

Number of employees: 1,200

Number of food customers: 150

Solution name(s): Carton, tote and unit load conveyor and sortation systems; Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) for case, tote carton and pallet loads; Warehouse Control and Warehouse Management Systems

Worth noting:TGW Systems is a leading material handling equipment and integrated logistics solutions provider.”

 

TMW Systems, Cleveland, OH

Web site: www.tmwsystems.com

Year founded: 1983

Number of employees: 450

Number of food customers: 250+

Solution name(s): TMWSuite, TruckMate, Innovative, TMT Fleet Maintenance, IDSC ExpertFuel, IDSC TripAlert, Appian DirectRoute, Appian ResourcePro, Appian SchedulePro, Appian DR Track, Appian Territory Pro

Worth noting: “Private fleets face competition from dedicated carriers and need to consider operating with a commercial fleet mindset in order to move from expense to profit center. For fleets that embrace back-hauling or load pooling in order to defray operating costs, our transportation management software provides the framework to serve and do business with more than internal customers. For private fleets that maintain their own vehicles, our fleet maintenance software helps keep costs under control and trucks up and running, both keys to productivity and service performance.”

 

TopVOX Corporation, Barrington, IL

Web site: www.top-vox.com

Year founded: 1995

Number of employees: 120+

Number of food customers: 250+

Solution name(s): topSpeechLydia

Worth noting: “Profit margins, especially in the food industry are challenging. The speaker independent topSpeechLydia voice recognition system of TopVOX, has proven an increase on average of 20 to 25 percent productivity compared to RF and/or paper picking. Thanks to eyes-free, hands-free operation, there is an increase in safety and ergonomics: focus is on the job at hand! In addition, errors normally decrease by 8 to 10 percent.”

 

Trade Extensions, Uppsala, Sweden

Web site: www.tradeextensions.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 20

Number of food customers: 5

Solution name(s): Trade Extensions Sourcing

Worth noting: “Trade Extensions provides a cloud strategic sourcing solution that helps companies automate their sourcing processes, collaborate with suppliers and team members, and make optimal allocation decisions based on their qualitative and quantitative criteria (cost components, risk management, quality, etc.).”

 

Transplace, Dallas, TX

Web site: www.transplace.com

Year founded: 2000

Number of employees: 675

Number of food customers: 99

Solution name(s): Third-party logistics, transportation management system (TMS), brokerage, supply chain consulting

Worth noting: “Leading grocery and foodservice manufacturers are placing a high premium on data. Exceptional analytical tools and capabilities will help develop insights that companies can apply across their supply chain. We encourage our customers and our teams to be data-driven in all their approaches. It fits well with our Lean Six Sigma program and has become an important part of our DNA. Using Microsoft Business Intelligence, Transplace has developed proactive reporting that allows our teams to avoid service failures before they happen. This coupled with ‘loads in trouble’ logic or exception management tools inside our TMS allows us to perform at a high level and meet our customers’ expectations. By exceeding customers’ expectation on delivery performance, it allows them to better manage their out-of-stocks and their inventory, which is critical.”

 

Triple T Transport, Lewis Center, OH

Web site:www.triplettransport.com

Year founded: 1988

Number of employees: 50

Number of food customers: 50+

Solution name(s): Load Planning; Routing & Scheduling; Third-party Logistics; and TMS

Worth noting: “Triple T Transport’s number one goal is to fulfill and exceed our customers’ expectations and needs as well of those of their customers with commitment and confidence. With more than twenty-five years of experience in managing carriers and freight, our team of professionals do one thing extremely well—we provide customer service.”

 

TZA, Long Grove, IL

Web site: www.tza.com

Year founded: 1984

Number of employees: 50+

Number of food customers: 40+

Solution name(s): ProTrack Warehouse; ProTrack Drivers

Worth noting: “Labor represents one of the largest expense items in a distribution (and manufacturing) environment.”

 

UpNet TechnologiesUpNet Technologies, Minneapolis, MN

Web site: www.upnettec.com

Year founded: 1996

Number of employees: 30

Number of food customers: 60

Solution name(s): iEDeX data integration & translation platform, Distributed Order Management, Logistic Network Manager, Customer Purchasing Gateway, Supplier Relationship Manager, Status 411, Business Analytics, B2B Trading Partner Network, Product and Inventory Manager, Scan-based Trading & Ordering, Purchase-2-Pay, e-Invoicing

Worth noting: “In today’s market, the grocery industry must contend with many of the typical retail struggles, including massive amounts of SKUs, shrink and returns. Buyers today are making this situation even more difficult by focusing on fresh and boutique ingredients that have a high level of shrink due to shorter shelf life and often higher inventory cost that stores do not want bear. Manufacturers and distributors are in the unique position of having to sell these products into stores that are often hesitant to try additional lines of these perceived high-cost products.”

 

VAI, Ronkonkoma, NY

Web site: www.vai.net

Year founded: 1978

Number of employees: 135

Number of food customers: 10

Solution name(s): S2K Enterprise for Food Distribution

Worth noting: “The food distribution industry faces numerous challenges. Inventory management and tracking is critical. Lot and date tracking, broken case unit conversions, catch weight pricing, truck routing, and flexible contract pricing are just some of the requirements that make the food industry unique.”

 

Voxware, Hamilton, NJ

Web site: www.voxware.com

Year founded: 1993

Number of employees: 70

Number of food customers: 30+

Solution name(s): Voxware 3

Worth noting:Voxware provides voice-driven software products that optimize the full spectrum of warehouse operations for greater accuracy, productivity, and flexibility in supply chain execution.”

 

Westfalia TechnologiesWestfalia Technologies, York, PA

Web site: www.westfaliausa.com

Year founded: 1992

Number of employees: 80

Number of food customers: 20

Solution name(s): Savanna.NET

Worth noting: “The biggest challenge facing today’s grocery and foodservice industries is three-fold: more efficient order fulfillment; better inventory management; and greater availability of information/visibility to data across the enterprise. Savanna.NET assists our customers in all of these areas. Savanna.NET integrates seamlessly with material handling equipment (AS/RS, robotics, palletizers, conveyors, etc.) to efficiently manage the automatic fulfillment of customer orders, while also managing inventory and movements within the customer’s warehouse and communicating that information with any ERP/host system that our customers may have. We do all of this with our robust material handling solutions and our ability to help our customers utilize their existing assets (building, equipment, etc.) while doubling their storage capacity and reducing their information processing costs.”

 

Witron Integrated Logistics, Arlington Heights, IL

Web site: www.witron.com

Year founded: 1971

Number of employees: 1,200

Number of food customers: 12

Solution name(s): OPM-Order Picking Machinery, DPS-Dynamic Picking System, ETP-Ergonomic Tray Picking

Worth noting: “The biggest challenge is managing the growth in SKUs and the steep ABC curve that retailers are facing. Witron’s automated picking solutions remove the pickfront from the operation and allows the item list to grow without changing the picking system or warehouse footprint.”

 

Xata, Eden Prairie, MN

Web site: www.xata.com

Year founded: 1985

Number of employees: 210

Number of food customers: 200

Solution name(s): XataNet, Xata Turnpike

Worth noting: “Since 1985, Xata has been at the forefront of the development of technologies and services that have brought the power of science to the North American trucking industry. Combining enterprise software, onboard computing, real-time communication and global positioning, we’ve created intuitive and automated solutions that help improve operations by integrating operational and performance data with billing, payroll, routing and compliance systems.”

 

Zebra Technologies, Lincolnshire, IL

Web site: www.zebra.com

Year founded: 1969

Number of employees: 3,000

Number of food customers: 50

Solution name(s): An extensive portfolio of bar code, receipt, kiosk and RFID printers and supplies, as well as real-time location solutions

Worth noting: “In a fast-track world, choose Zebra solutions to help identify, track and manage your critical assets, transactions and people accurately and more efficiently. Zebra offers the broadest range of innovative technology solutions, on-demand digital printing and automatic identification solutions for business performance improvements.”

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