SFA member organizations gain access to unique benefits and shipping discounts through newly formed partnership with specialized 3PL, Zipline Logistics COLUMBUS, OHIO – Zipline Logistics announced today that it is now the official shipping partner for The Specialty Food Association (SFA). The partnership offers SFA members access to Zipline Logistics’ nationwide network of 25,000 food-grade […]
Read MoreTopic: Retail and Grocery Shipping Best Practices
Top 7 Issues in Beverage Transportation
Though it might seem straightforward at first glance, beverage transportation can be a tricky process. Getting your new drink or functional beverage on the shelf is no simple task. And while every business sector comes with its own set of transportation issues, there are a few concerns that are unique to the beverage industry. As […]
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Establishing Minimum Order Quantities Adds Up to Big Supply Chain Savings
There is plenty to consider when analyzing a transportation operation. Among the seemingly endless details that go into making a logistics decision, there is an important and often under-analyzed detail — how a carrier’s minimum charge can work in concert with retail minimum orders to maximize supply chain savings. Though minimum order quantity and minimum […]
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Research: Retail Buyers Spotlight Practical Ways Brands Can Stand Out
Methodology: Zipline Logistics included 300+ retail buyers in our research efforts, with only a handful willing to be directly tied to the findings. We plan to continue this research throughout the year. Stay tuned for more information. Competition for grocery and retail shelf space is at an all-time high as new consumer products hit the […]
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Leveraging Logistics to Unlock Profit – Specialty Food Association
Logistics is a rapidly changing and complex industry. This is particularly true for grocery and retail transportation. Retailers are tightening demands on vendors so they can have well-stocked shelves and retain customers, keeping them from turning to online alternatives. While e-commerce is booming, only 3% of grocery shopping is currently done online. There is still […]
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The Truth About Collect Shipping and Retail Compliance
Retail compliance is a topic of national interest and debate. What is the best way to manage tight supplier shipping requirements? A common misconception in the CPG industry is that it’s always a better choice to let a retailer handle pickup and delivery of product. The misconception is based on the idea that when big […]
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Walmart OTIF Requirements; May 2019 Vendor Compliance Updates
Retailers are continuously changing their vendor guidelines in order to remain competitive and adjust to both consumer and supplier demands. Walmart OTIF (On Time In Full) is the latest retail vendor compliance program to see a round of updates. Wall Street Journal reported on the update earlier this month, but here’s a break down of […]
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5 Ways to Recoup Value of Near-Expired Food and Beverage Products
Food and beverage manufacturers are often faced with figuring out what to do with product that is near its “sell by,” “use by,” or “best by” date. These dates prevent them from being able to sell through traditional customer channels and they must find new ways to salvage not only the product but the potential […]
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Retail Supplier Updates: H-E-B and UNFI – February 2019
Retailers and distributors make regular updates to their supplier guidelines and warehouse networks. These changes are often related to billing, packaging, appointment scheduling, hours of operation, and/or chargeback structures. All changes are made with intentions to improve business processes. Zipline goes in and out of big-box/grocery retailers daily, so we have a strong pulse on […]
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Rejected Freight: Top Reasons Freight is Turned Away
What does it mean to have rejected freight? If a carrier arrives at a facility and the receiver refuses to take the freight as is, it is rejected and must go back to the shipper or be fixed before ownership can switch hands. Some reasons for rejected freight are obvious, like a damaged product or […]
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Difference Between Food Broker, Distributor, and 3PL
Rather than handling sales and shipping for a food or beverage product, many business owners chose to work with partners to ease their workload and expand their growth potential. Working with outside service providers allows a food or beverage brand to focus on its core competencies, access experts without hiring new staff, save money, and […]
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Kroger Vendor Guidelines Updated for On-Time Delivery
(Photo: Matthew Berry/Eagle-Gazette) Since Kroger launched its on-time delivery compliance program, the retailer reports seeing improvements from several suppliers. In response to the success, Kroger is rolling out new parameters to reward high-performing suppliers. Updated Kroger Vendor Guidelines Below are the specific changes that Kroger will be implementing: Any supplier that achieves an average of […]
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