Heinen's Deploys Next Generation DSD Solution

Heinen's Fine Foods has deployed Aldata Direct Store Delivery to optimize the direct delivery of perishable products from vendors and manufacturers to its 17 retail stores.

Aldata DSD was developed to ensure that perishable or high-turnover products, such as bread or fish, are fresh and consistently in stock by enabling them to bypass distribution centers, minimize the number of days in the supply chain and arrive directly at the store shelf. Aldata's next generation DSD System is designed to facilitate the delivery of products at the right cost, while protecting both retail profit margins and the stores' in-stock position.

"Heinen's Fine Foods has based its business on being a specialty grocer that consistently offers super fresh produce, meat, fish and bakery items," said Rick Fink, director of supply chain at Heinen's. "With Aldata Direct Store Delivery, Heinen's is able to further distance itself from the large grocery chains by decreasing the time it takes for us to get food from the farm to our customers' tables."

With Aldata DSD, Heinans expects:

• Reduced lead times to ensure customers receive fresh, consistently available merchandise;
• Bypassed warehouse operations will materially reduce labor and transport costs;
• Improved store operational controls minimize delivery errors, incorrect costs, forgotten discounts and time consuming manual processing