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In today's tough economic climate, grocery and foodservice distributors and manufacturers are facing complex distribution challenges and they're applying more technologies to better manage their supply chains.

For the fifth year in a row, Food Logistics has identified the top 100 technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

Known as the FL100, this resource is a listing of software, hardware and IT service providers that focus on the unique needs of food companies. The FL100 are based on their proven track record and expertise in providing food companies with technology and services to help them meet their business objectives.

In this section, we've included a series of charts that list 18 categories of technology solutions and identifies which solution(s) each of the FL100 offers. On the following pages, we list the FL100 with more details, as well as their web addresses.

1SYNC,
Lawrenceville, NJ;
www.1sync.org
Year founded: 2005;
Number of employees: 250;
Number of food customers: NA.
Solution names: 1SYNC Item Management Solution; 1SYNC Price and Promotion Solution; PCATS Gateway Solution; 1SYNC Brand Identity Solution.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors.
Key problems solved: Reduces out-of-stock volume; reduces new item set-up times; decreases item-maintenance time; reduces invoice discrepancies; higher customer satisfaction.

ABF Freight System Inc.,
Fort Smith, AR;
www.abf.com
Year founded: 1923;
Number of employees: 12,000;
Number of food customers: 100+
Solution names: Shipment Director; Returns Center; Business Trend Analysis; OptiPool; Merge-In-Transit; Supply Chain Services; Reverse Logistics.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: ABF is consistently recognized for best-in-class performance in productivity, safety and security, loss and damage prevention, yield discipline and electronic and market innovation.

AFS Technologies Inc.,
Phoenix;
www.afsi.com
Year founded: 1985;
Number of employees: 150+;
Number of food customers: 750+
Solution names: AFS Enterprise Resource Planning; Priya Warehouse Management; AFS Order Management System; AFS Driver Delivery System; Discovery Business Intelligence; Compass Forecasting; PromoAssist Trade Promotion Management; Profile Product Database.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors, third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: All AFS solutions are designed to help our food and beverage customers optimize effectiveness, efficiency and profits.

Agentrics,
Chicago,
www.agentrics.com
Year founded: 2005;
Number of employees: 150;
Number of food customers: 60
Solution names: Agentrics GenNovation; Agentrics GenSource; SA2 Worldsync (global data synchronization joint-venture).
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers, convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors.
Key problems solved: Agentrics provides a full end-to-end solution for companies looking to improve management of their product development and launching process, sourcing plan for optimal savings, master item data and collaborative forecasting.
*Other solutions/services: eSourcing and supplier discovery services; PLM for private label goods development.

Aldata Solution Inc.,
Atlanta;
www.aldata-solution.com/us
Year founded: 1986;
Number of employees: 543;
Number of food customers: 310 in 53 countries
Solution names: Aldata G.O.L.D. This retail suite includes modules for merchandising, sales, replenishment, logistics and store operations.
Markets served: Supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors.
Key problems solved: Integrated demand and replenishment optimization; store execution; WMS and inventory optimization; item and price management; merchandise management and optimization; supply chain visibility; supplier management; business management and support; retail intelligence and analytics.

ALK Technologies,
Princeton, NJ;
www.alk.com
Year founded: 1979;
Number of employees: 200;
Number of food customers: N/A
Solution names: PC*MILER; PC*MILER/Streets; PC*MILER/HazMat; PC*MILER/Worldwide; PC*MILER/FuelTax.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: PC*MILER is the industry-standard routing mileage and mapping software. It allows users to guide drivers to delivery locations, verify routes for rating and reporting, get time and cost estimates, streamline the freight payment and audit process, and import locations to customize the database.

Aquitec Inc. (a member of USC Group),
Bagshot, U.K.;
www.aquitecintl.com
Year founded: 1970;
Number of employees: N/A;
Number of food customers: 20
Solution names: SCM Warehouse; SCM Billing; SCM Procurement; SCM/400 WMS; Store Order; Labor Purchasing Management
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: Supply chain costs; supply chain visibility; labor costs; inventory accuracy; service levels; productivity.

ArrowStream Inc.,
Chicago;
www.arrowstream.com
Year founded: 2000;
Number of employees: 80;
Number of food customers: 15+
Solution names: ArrowStream OnDemand.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors.
Key problems solved: Optimize promotional investment; efficiently manage complex supply chains through visibility of product; build better distribution-chain relationships with automation and synchronized information.

Battery Performance Research Institute,
Alexandria Bay, NY;
www. batteryperformancereports.com
Year founded: 2001;
Number of employees: 2;
Number of food customers: 12
Solution names: N/A.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; foodservice distributors.
Key problems solved: Reduce battery room operating costs by doubling battery lifespan. Achieve an eight-month ROI by reducing over-the-road class 8 trucks with no starts and electrical system maintenance costs.
*Other solutions/services: Maximize truck and motive power battery performance

BFC Associates Inc.,
West Chicago, IL;
www.bfcsoftware.com
Year founded: 1984;
Number of employees: 15;
Number of food customers: 100+
Solution names: Dakota Series WMS
Markets served: Manufacturers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors.
Key problems solved: Inventory control; elimination of errors; increase in productivity and profitability.

Blinco Systems Inc.,
Toronto;
www.blinco.com
Year founded: 1988;
Number of employees: 16;
Number of food customers: 7
Solution names: 3rdwave GMC
Markets served: Manufacturers; foodservice distributors.
Key problems solved: Improved total business processes delivering significant improvements in inventory management, product cost reduction and operational efficiency. Improved procure to pay visibility and compliance.
*Other solutions/services: Visibility; reporting and analytics; customs.

Blue Sky Technologies Inc.,
Coppell, TX;
www.blueskytech.com
Year founded: 2003;
Number of employees: 10;
Number of food customers: 10
Solution names: Insight; Janus Appointment Management Systems; Insight Truck Tracker
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: Supply chain visibility; key performance indicators; alerting; metrics.

Cadec Global,
Manchester, NH;
www.cadec.com
Year founded: 1976;
Number of employees: 90+;
Number of food customers: 50+
Solution names: Mobius TTS; PowerVue
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: Helps extend supply chain into truck cabs. Monitors driver behaviors such as speeding, sudden decels, excessive idling, off-route driving to improve safety and reduce fuel consumption. Real-time cold chain management to preserve food in transport.

CAMS Software Corp.,
New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada;
www.camspro.com
Year founded: 1997;
Number of employees: 15;
Number of food customers: 20
Solution names: CAMS Professional; CAMS Backhaul Module; CAMS Service Manager
Markets served: Supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers.
Key problems solved: Online visual dispatch optimization; driver payroll, hourly and/or activity-based pay; backhaul and salvage optimization; transportation reporting; equipment utilization.

CaseStack Inc.,
Santa Monica, CA;
www.casestack.com
Year founded: 1999;
Number of employees: 100+;
Number of food customers: 500+
Solution names: Retailer Consolidation Program; Transportation Brokering
Markets served: Manufacturers.
Key problems solved: Save time and money for mid-sized companies with high frequency and low volume orders. Minimize carbon footprint and wasteful shipping practices through retailer consolidation programs. Manage inventory expansions.

CDC Software,
Atlanta;
www.cdcsoftware.com
Year founded: 1999;
Number of employees: 2,000;
Number of food customers: 431
Solution names: CDC Factory; Ross ERP and SCM; e-M-POWER; CDC Supply Chain; Respond; c360 CRM add-on products.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: Depending on the product line addressed, each suite offers a range of benefits and addresses key problems.

ClearOrbit,
Austin, TX;
www.clearorbit.com
Year founded: 1994;
Number of employees: 150;
Number of food customers: 6
Solution names: Supplier Collaboration for Oracle: Xtended Process Control (X.PC); Mobile Applications for Oracle: Gemini Simplified Interface (G.SI) Suite; OPM Data Collection: Gemini Simplified Interface (G.S1) for Receiving, Inventory, Manufacturing, Shipping and QA for OPM; Bar-Code and RFID Printing: Compliance Label Manager (CLM); Enterprise Returns Management (ERM); Supply Network Gateway (SNG).
Markets served: Manufacturers; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: ClearOrbit solutions leverage and extend enterprise systems internally and in collaboration with trading partners to optimize operations, eliminate errors and reduce latency in inventory flow to respond to real-time demand change.

CLS Inc. (an Inmar company),
Winston-Salem, NC;
www.cls.inmar.com
Year founded: 1985;
Number of employees: NA;
Number of food customers: 200+
Solution names: Retailer and manufacturer solutions include Returns Management; Asset Recovery; Risk Management; Returns Prevention; Information Intelligence.
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors.
Key problems solved: Returns Management (both RX and Front Store)--single source solution from return authorization to final disposition, including facility management, processing of physical returns, debit and credit financial management, reverse to forward, and policy consulting; Asset Recovery--value-added liquidation for discontinued, overstocks, withdrawn, surplus, closeouts, salvage, obsolete and distressed inventory balanced between optimal revenue maximization and brand and channel protection; Risk Management--regulatory compliant disposition, recall management including notification, product retrieval and payment and counterfeit detection and monitoring for brand protection and supply chain integrity; Returns Prevention--supply chain analysis for returns reduction and avoidance, best practices, score carding and packaging analysis at all touch points including manufacturer plant, distribution center, retailers' regional distribution center and retail store.

Container and Pooling Solutions (CAPS),
Livonia, MI;
www.useCAPS.com
Year founded: 1998;
Number of employees: 20;
Number of food customers: 50
Solution names: CAPS-135 Liquid Container; CAPS-TRAC Suite - Tracking Software
Markets served: Third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: Container loss - our containers are all bar coded and tracked via our proprietary CAPS-TRAC tracking software, reducing the risk of loss. Reduce cost - CAPS container rental and tracking typically saves our customers 10-15 percent off their current packaging spending. Save storage space - CAPS' containers are collapsible, saving valuable storage space once containers have been emptied. Additionally, collapsibility allows for more containers per truck, ultimately reducing freight costs; reduce risk of contamination - with liners being disposed of after every use, there's no risk of product contamination. Environmentally friendly - because containers are rented and used multiple times, they are more environmentally friendly than corrugated containers as they do not require disposal. Additionally, once a container can no longer be used, it is reground and the plastic materials are recycled and reused. Less residual and harborage points - containers have smooth surfaces for optimal hygiene and a sump to ensure less residual (wasted product). Eliminate the need for strapping and pallets - saving money and reducing disposal fees. No racking required. Hold 315-gallons - CAPS-315 has the largest weight capacity of any plastic collapsible liquid container (3,307 lbs).

Daifuku Co. Ltd.,
Osaka, Japan;
www.daifukuamerica.com
Year founded: 1937;
Number of employees: 5,663;
Number of food customers: 5,325+
Solution names: Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS/RS); Sorting & Picking Systems (including Sorting Transfer Vehicles); Conveyor & Vehicle Systems; Containers & Carts; Warehouse Management & Control Software
Markets served: Manufacturers; supermarket retailers; grocery wholesalers; convenience store distributors; foodservice distributors; third-party logistics providers.
Key problems solved: We help companies recapture floor space, reduce errors, streamline processes, decrease cycle time and improve productivity.
*Other solutions/services: Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS).