Foodservice Distributor Lowers Inventory While Increasing Service Levels
ATLANTA--Leading supply chain solutions provider, Manhattan Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH), implemented its Replenishment solution, a component of its Integrated Planning Solutions™, for Hawkeye Foodservice Distribution, Inc., a privately-owned broadline distributor of foodservice products. As one of the top 25 corporations in its industry, Hawkeye serves as the distribution link between food and food-related items and end users such as restaurants, healthcare facilities and schools. The company chose Manhattan Associates’ Replenishment solution to avoid the pitfalls of inventory surpluses, overcrowded warehouses and spoiled product that result from inaccurate demand forecasting and to reach an impressive goal of increasing inventory turns from 9 to 15 per year.
“With Manhattan Associates’ Replenishment solution, we can access a real-time picture of the company’s forecast—ensuring a high level of accuracy which is essential in the food product industry,” explains Drew Beck, Vice President of Purchasing and Marketing at Hawkeye Foodservice Distribution, Inc. “During a year of more than 9% growth, we have been able to reduce inventory levels. Inventory turns are increasing, seasonal fluctuations are minimized and service levels are up. We are able to accomplish more with the same staff. The Replenishment solution is just what we needed to achieve our goals.”
From a demand perspective, the foodservice business is extremely volatile and difficult to forecast, creating enormous potential for an optimized replenishment strategy. In addition to the customary inventory control, Manhattan Associates’ Replenishment solution enables Hawkeye to review its entire replenishment process more frequently through a daily item-level analysis. It is also unique in its ability to allow the creation of appropriate interfaces from Hawkeye’s mainframe system, greatly increasing the efficiency and ease of use for employees.
“Hawkeye Food set an ambitious goal for itself in terms of inventory management change but it is well on its way to surpassing it,” says Jeff Mitchell, Manhattan Associates' executive vice president, Americas. “We are proud to see our Replenishment solution creating such significant benefits for Hawkeye and believe it will continue to experience the success that comes from leveraging the supply chain.”
About Manhattan Associates, Inc.
Manhattan Associates® is a leading supply chain solutions provider. The company’s supply chain planning, supply chain execution, business intelligence and business process platform capabilities enable its more than 1200 customers worldwide to enhance profitability, performance and competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.
