With case-lot season in full swing, Associated Food Stores’ distribution center is facing its busiest time of year. To manage the surge in demand, the team has turned to an innovative solution: using the Business Depot Ogden (BDO) facility as additional storage space while the Farr West Distribution Center continues construction.
The move, which has been used throughout Project ROAR, has proven critical to handling the roughly 14,000 pallets of product flowing through the system for case lot, in addition to regular inventory and ad buys.
“With Project ROAR now in phase two, planning has been one of the biggest challenges,” said Terri Jensen, distribution operations manager. “The moving fence lines and restricted floor space forced us to get creative. Using BDO as our ‘home away from home’ for products has been key to keeping up with retail demand.”
The BDO site, which has held about 4,400 pallets at capacity in recent months, has helped the team receive and organize products from July through September. At the same time, the team continues juggling about 60 open purchase orders, managing trailers filled with overflow and coordinating direct-ship loads to stores.
Terri said teamwork and daily problem-solving have made it possible to keep the process running smoothly. “We’ve had to preplan every detail and be our best at improvising daily,” she said. “Our goal is making sure retailers get everything they’ve ordered for their customers and it’s a job we take very seriously.”
Despite the challenges, distribution leaders say they’re energized by the progress as case-lot loads ship out and trailers return from these important deliveries.
“The progress of Project ROAR is only possible because of the hard work, patience, understanding and cooperation of both our AFS teams and our retailers,” said Justin Johnson, vice president of distribution. “Together, we’re building the systems and support that will drive greater efficiency and innovation for independent grocers for years to come.”