Food Logistics

OCT 2014

Food Logistics serves the entire food supply chain industry with targeted content for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.

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F R O M T H E E D I T O R ' S D E S K FOR STARTERS PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher Jolene Gulley Editor-in-Chief Lara L. Sowinski 262-443-5919; lsowinski@ACBusinessMedia.com Assistant Editor Eric Sacharski 920-563-1680; esacharski@ACBusinessMedia.com Managing Editor Elliot Maras 800-547-7377, ext 1693; emaras@ACBusinessMedia.com Ad Production Manager Cindy Rusch 920-563-1664, crusch@ACBusinessMedia.com Art Director Kirsten Crock Senior Audience Development Manager Wendy Chady Audience Development Manager Tammy Steller EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Jaymie C. Forrest, vice president, supply chain practice, Alexander Proudfoot Kam Quarles, director, legislative affairs, McDermott Will & Emery LLP Pamela Erb, vice president of supply chain, Wegmans ADVERTISING SALES East Coast Sales Manager Judy Welp 480-821-1093; Fax: 480-240-4897 jwelp@ACBusinessMedia.com Midwest/West Coast Sales Manager Carrie Konopacki 920-568-8309; Fax: 651-203-0460 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 ckonopacki@ACBusinessMedia.com CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257 (847) 559-7598, Fax: (800) 543-5055 Email: circ.FoodLogistics@omeda.com LIST RENTAL Elizabeth Jackson, Merit Direct LLC (847) 492-1350, ext. 18, Fax: (847) 492-0085 Email: ejackson@meritdirect.com REPRINT SERVICES Nick Iademarco, Wright's Media (877) 652-5295, ext. 102 niademarco@wrightsmedia.com AC BUSINESS MEDIA INC. Chairman Anil Narang President and CEO Carl Wistreich Executive Vice President Kris Flitcroft VP Content Greg Udelhofen VP Marketing Debbie George Digital Operations Manager Nick Raether Published and copyrighted 2014 by AC Business Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Published by AC Business Media Inc. PO Box 803, 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0803 (800) 547-7377 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com W W W . F O O D L O G I S T I C S . C O M 6 OCTOBER 2014 • FOOD LOGISTICS T he so-called Amazon Efect has many industries—in- cluding foodservice—grappling with how this retail behemoth and its dominance in e-commerce will poten- tially impact their home turf. Mark Allen, president and CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) examined this topic in the group's recent Executive Update newsletter. According to Allen, while Amazon "isn't currently targeting the foodservice operator with their offerings…given their core capa- bilities and the investments they are making and strategies they are employing, it also wouldn't be much of a stretch to envision them having an impact on foodservice distribution." Where Amazon and other successful e-commerce players get it right is with their customer experience. Make it easy for customers to shop, order, read reviews, and return items if necessary. That's the not-so-secret sauce that any company engaged in e-com- merce should aspire to, whether B2C or B2B. Furthermore, Allen identifies six ways that Amazon uses to stay ahead in the e-commerce space; all of which could work equally well for foodservice distributors. They include: Amazon has a relentless, enterprise-wide focus on the customer. EVERYTHING starts with the customer; They love to invent and pioneer (and don't see a need to protect legacy revenues); They are making tremendous, continuous investments in infrastructure; They are intently focused on having much more control over their deliveries/last mile; Their growth model is simple and focused on continuously driving greater volume; They have a huge data advantage (think GS1—complete and accurate data). Foodservice distributors cannot afford to lose market share, warns Allen. Even if Amazon avoids taking "direct aim" at the industry, they could "nibble around the edges." When you consider that Amazon is in the midst of adding 91 million square feet of ware- house space to their network, much of it multi-temp, with a goal of providing same-day delivery to 80 percent of the U.S. population with 80 percent of their products, then it's time to sit up and take notice, he says. However, the foodservice industry does have an advantage, Allen reassures. Unlike the Amazon model that relies on technology interacting with humans, foodservice is about humans interacting with humans and providing a high level of value-added service and information. Great advice for any industry who doesn't want Amazon to smoke them in the passing lane. Enjoy the read. LARA L. SOWINSKI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LSOWINSKI@ACBUSINESSMEDIA. COM S O W I N S K I Foodservice Sees Amazon In The Rearview Mirror

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