Regional Grocer Tames Inbound Chaos
Forty stores, dozens of vendors, missed windows — consolidated into one calm inbound operation.
Overview
A family-run grocery chain with 40 stores across three states sourced from more than 60 vendors. Each vendor shipped on its own schedule, delivery appointments slipped daily, and store managers spent mornings apologizing for empty shelves instead of serving customers.
The Challenge
Inbound freight arrived whenever vendors felt like sending it. The distribution center couldn't plan labor, perishables waited on hot docks, and late deliveries cascaded into stockouts at the busiest stores on weekends. The grocer's team was managing carriers instead of managing food.
Our Approach
Vendor consolidation calendar
We grouped vendors by region into fixed weekly pickup windows, turning 60 random arrivals into a predictable inbound rhythm.
Appointment discipline
Every load got a booked dock slot with reminders to both ends. Dwell time at the DC dropped within the first month.
One tracking view
Store managers and the DC team share a single milestone feed — pickup, in-transit, delivered — so nobody chases trucks by phone.
The Outcome
Weekend stockouts fell sharply, perishable shrink declined, and the DC finally staffs to a schedule instead of surprises. The grocer's operations director describes inbound day as “boring now — in the best way.”
Juggling Vendors of Your Own?
We consolidate inbound freight for retailers and distributors nationwide.