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Ferrara Candy leverages BluJay’s LaaS while preparing for business growth
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Consumer Goods
- Food & Beverage
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Fleet Management
- Predictive Maintenance
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Ferrara Candy Company faced a significant challenge when it needed to manage a projected 70 percent volume growth within 24 months due to an acquisition, while simultaneously dealing with a 50 percent reduction in its transportation department staff. The company had already implemented BluJay’s Transportation Management System (TMS) and Procurement Tool to streamline its transportation processes, but the sudden increase in volume and decrease in staff created a critical need for a more efficient and scalable solution. The transportation team, which had dwindled to just four people, was under immense pressure to meet the logistics demands of the growing business. Ferrara needed to find a way to manage this growth without compromising on efficiency or customer satisfaction.
About The Customer
Ferrara Candy Company is a renowned international manufacturer of iconic confectionary brands such as Lemonheads, Now and Later, Atomic Fireball, Sather’s, and Trolli. Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, the company boasts over $1 billion in annual sales. Ferrara operates five manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Mexico, two U.S.-based distribution centers, and numerous co-manufacturing and co-packaging partners worldwide. The company also leverages 18 partners across 32 locations in the U.S. for consolidated, regional LTL distribution. With an annual freight spend of about $60 million, Ferrara recognized the need for a modern and structured approach to transportation management to support its extensive operations and growth ambitions.
The Solution
To address the transportation challenges, Ferrara initially attempted to rebuild its transportation department by hiring and training young talent. However, this approach proved difficult due to the time and effort required for training and development, which detracted from the team’s ability to meet current logistics demands. Consequently, Ferrara considered outsourcing its logistics planning and execution to BluJay’s Logistics as a Service (LaaS). This solution offered several advantages, including access to a team of experienced TMS users, faster execution timelines, and the ability to scale operations. Despite concerns about relying on an external party, Ferrara decided to proceed with BluJay LaaS. The implementation involved leveraging three years of historical planning data, consistent interaction with BluJay’s team, and a staggered rollout of executional responsibilities within the TMS. This approach allowed Ferrara to increase internal bandwidth, enabling its transportation team to focus on strategic initiatives and process improvements.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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