Clients Briefs
Fairfax Meadow
Fairfax Meadow is a large catering butcher who blends advanced manufacturing techniques with the skills of the traditional butcher to deliver quality meat at competitive prices. They produce a large range of products for a very wide range of customers and they needed a solution that could make order processing and delivery as efficient and effective as possible. By selecting the ColumbusFood solution Fairfax Meadow has been able to respond to their own objectives to provide exceptional customer services and quality of product. Key benefits have included tighter control on the shop floor, access to real time information, shorter time to input sales orders, improved customer service and a reduction in administration time.
"The Columbus solution has given us tighter control on the shop floor. We are able to collect information in real-time. This means when a customer asks a query, we can answer him not only quickly but with up to-the minute information."
Origin
Origin is a fast growing agri services business with operations in numerous countries. They had a large number of disparate systems running in different departments and geographies. Origin chose the ColumbusFood solution so that they could benefit from the process efficiencies of one solution running throughout the business. Origin want to continue to grow through acquisition and now have a solution that enables them to streamline their business processes, to make them consistent and readily replicable.
"Columbus combined an in-depth knowledge of manufacturing and distribution with a corporate culture that we really bought into. The Columbus people know what they're talking about, they work as a team, and they are confident and self-assured - because they've done it before, and can be upfront and honest about what will and won't work."
RICH Products
Rich Products is a global producer of bakery goods with 7,500 employees and an annual turnover of $3bn. Rich Products objectives were based around the need to be world class at innovation, customer service and delivering products. There old systems were out dated and were not able to help with some key requirements including forecasting, fixed asset control and holistic inventory control. In addition, data extraction was slow and unreliable and the interface was not user-friendly enough to teach staff how to use it properly. Rich Products selected a ColumbusFood solution and have seen some significant benefits:
- Raw material inventory has been reduced by 10%
- On Time In Full (OTIF) service levels have increased by 1% to 98.5%
- Indirect headcount — those not involved in manufacture — has been reduced by 15%
- Yield figures are live so amendments are made immediately
"We now have visible stock. Whereas before people had to go around counting things and we'd get an update perhaps once a day, now the system updates in real time."
Bateel
Bateel is a fast growing international producer of gourmet confectionery. The Bateel processing units buy from their own farms and then sell the finished products on to the company-owned and franchised retail outlets. They required a solution that could handle all these operations. One of the main problems they were experiencing was an inability to automatically feed data about production cost into their financial systems. They selected the Columbus solution because of the industry and implementation expertise. They have had many benefits from the solution including:
- Streamlining business processes
- Improved inventory control and business flow
- Improved reporting and analysis
- Increased integration across the whole business
"We can now control all our operations and get more refined information shared across all parts of the business production cycle."
D'Arrigo Brothers
D'Arrigo Brothers is a producer of fresh produce. They were using a system that was very manual leading to very time consuming, error prone re-keying and the there was a lack of real time insight into inventory leading to under and over selling. They selected the ColumbusFood solution which has led to benefits in real-time insight and control over its business, helping to improve productivity, profitability, and customer relationships. Other benefits include:
- Over 80 hours per week less time spend on administration
- Ability to track the expiration dates of produce
- Ability to handle the buyback of produce
"Before we make a sale, we know exactly what the margin will be and how that fits into our business plan, which has undoubtedly made us a more profitable business."
Stonewall Kitchen
Stonewall Kitchen, an award winning specialty food manufacturer, struggled to see a full view of inventory, product lead time and customer data from their disparate, piecemeal systems. They knew that in order to offer the exceptional customer service they wanted they would need to streamline their business solutions and update their systems. Stonewall Kitchen selected Columbus because of the industry expertise. Since the implementation the business has grown by 400% through increased productivity, improved cross-division communication and a growth in customer service.
"ColumbusFood helps us work faster and get more orders out the door. If we didn't have it, we would never be this big."
Park 100 Foods
Park 100 Foods manufactures custom food solutions including frozen soups, sauces, chili, side dishes, gravies, fruit toppings, dips, entrees and portioned breaded meat. Expanded manufacturing facilities, new products and an ever increasing customer base stretched Park 100 Foods 15-year old system to its limit. This was time consuming, had operational complications, restrictive functionality and cumbersome data output. An ever-sophisticated and demanding customer base, coupled with new, stringent compliance requirements for ingredient labeling and processing, required a flexible, scalable and user friendly solution. Columbus had the experience and expertise they were looking for and there was an immediate effect on productivity and ROI. The Integration of ColumbusFood was key to Park 100 Foods enhanced productivity, customer satisfaction, synergetic functionality and new growth opportunities.
"We anticipate that Park 100 Foods will grow 100-200 per cent due to the implementation of this state-of-the-art system. Don't compare — don't waste your time, save time — and money, purchase ColumbusFood, you won't regret it — ever!"
Jasper Wyman
Jasper Wyman and Son is a producer of wild blueberries. Founded in 1874, Jasper Wyman has over 7,000 acres of blueberry barrens, 16 acres of cranberry bogs and owns or has affiliations with six processing plants. Jasper Wyman was dissatisfied by the inability of their previous solution to help carry them into a new era of business. By instituting ColumbusFood, the business received the total support they needed for all their food processing operations, including functionality for all key business areas, such as financial, accounting, manufacturing and distribution systems.
"To ensure that the products we deliver to market represent the highest quality possible we have invested heavily in state-of-the-art manufacturing plants and follow the strictest food safety and processing practices."
State Garden
State Garden is the major supplier of fresh cut spinach and celery. State Garden had many process manufacturing issues as well as distribution issues. They were looking for a product with tremendous flexibility so that the product would be able to adapt to their ever-changing business needs. In particular, issues such as lot traceability at the raw material level were of critical importance. With ColumbusFood, State Garden received the fully integrated solution they were looking for, complete with the necessary tools for efficient true lot tracking. With Columbus State Garden not only received the tracking capabilities they needed, they also expanded their operations, including acquisitions and new business lines.
"Columbus has helped us being very effective in managing recalls, and that incorporated with the other policies and procedures that we have in place, makes us very effective."
Royal Canin
Royal Canin, a subsidiary of Mars / Masterfood, is a major manufacturer and distributor of pet foods. They were looking for a corporate solution that would give them insight into the business and harmonize the financial operations. Through working with Columbus they now have a role based solution that gives them full real time visibility of their data, transparency of their reporting and control of their corporate accounting.
"We are extremely satisfied with the decision to work with Columbus."
Alfred C. Toepfer International
Alfred C. Toepfer International is a leading trader of grain, selling around 3.5 million tons a year. There old solution was unable to give them reliable and timely information and required many manual intensive tasks to run the business. Alfred C Toepfer selected a solution from ColumbusFood. The new solution has enabled them to:
- Automate their trade, purchasing and logistics operations
- Adopt a paperless invoicing and approvals process
- Deal with the increasing burden of compliance
- Improve supply chain collaboration
- Increase production efficiency and make decisions based on real time
"The Columbus solution has increased operational efficiency and given increased visibility of the financial and economic indicators that help decision-making in real time."
Carletti
Specialty chocolate producer Carletti, was looking to build a competitive advantage through increasing the operational efficiencies throughout their supply chain. To help them do this Carletti worked with Columbus and their food solution. A key factor in the decision was the industry expertise of Columbus and the EDI functionality built into the solution. The new solution has led to:
- Lower administrative costs due to the elimination of data re-entry, postage and reduction in loading errors
- Increased cooperation and coordination of supply chain
- Reduced costs in production and logistics
- A reduction in stock
- Increased visibility of data from across the business
"Real time information from across the building has led to more accurate and timely decisions."
Jacobsens Bakery
Jacobsens Bakery is a global cake maker baking almost 7 million cakes a day with exports to 71 countries. They were looking for an ERP solution that would ensure they can accurately plan production, prevent any delays and improve the reliability of supply. Jacobsens selected Columbus for its industry expertise and the flexibility of the solution. The key benefits of the solution have been:
- Improvement in the management of transportation
- Increased financial and budget control
- Ecommerce capabilities
"The consultants at Columbus have great expertise and know what is important to our business. I do not hesitate to say that we get the best quality for the money spent."
Palink
Palink is a global food manufacturer and distributor who were looking for a complete end to end food manufacturing and warehouse management solution. They worked with Columbus due to their industry expertise. Their main requirement of the solution was flavor stability and quality assurance. Happily for Palink they also received many more benefits from the solution including:
- Complete traceability of the production process
- Increased product quality
- Improved warranty management
- Increased visibility of the business data
- Improved integration with other systems
"Before working with Columbus we had no visibility into where we were making money and losing money."
Harry's CIS
Harry's is a leading manufacturer of confectionery and bakery products with 900 employees and 120 suppliers of raw materials producing 250 different lines. They had been using a solution that was now obsolete and therefore visibility of data and accurate reporting were causing problems. Harry's selected ColumbusFood which has enabled them drive efficiencies in their complex business processes and gain real time access to valuable reporting to ensure better decision making in the future. The new solution is easier faster and safer. The monthly financial report now takes 2 days compared to 7 with the old solution.
"The implementation success is down to the great team work of the Columbus and Harry's project team."
Uhrenholt
Uhrenholt is one of the largest global food distributors working with more than 3000 commodities, including dairy and meat products, seafood, frozen vegetables and groceries, across major food retailers and the hospitality industry. Their old solutions did not have the flexibility they required, there were too many manual processes and there was no visibility of key data. Their key requirements for a new solution were based around efficiency gains through financial control, automation of processes, management of costs and better reporting. They selected Columbus because of their knowledge of the food industry. This has enabled them to reach a new level of interaction with customers and partners, ensure the growth of company profits and gain a competitive advantage in terms of inventory management, pricing and merchandising.
"We managed to reduce the cost of delivery of products by 38%, dramatically increase the quality control of shipped orders and minimize the cost of returning goods."
Unimilk
Unimilk consists of 25 companies producing 700,000 tonnes of dairy products a year. They had multiple disparate systems and a lack of standardized processes throughout the business. They were looking for a solution to consolidate all of the management information. The solution they were looking for needed to offer high levels of performance and deal with the specific features of the dairy industry including the short product life cycle. They have worked with Columbus and now have a centralized solution with 1300 concurrent users all working in a standardized manor which has transformed the business. These new streamlined processes coupled with real time insight into inventory and expiration dates have improved productivity and customer service.
"With the Columbus Solution there is now a framework in place to support the future expansion plans."
SPI Group
SPI Group is one of the world's leading beverage companies with 30 companies in the group and is the owner of the famous Stolichnaya Premium Vodka brand. SPI Group controls the processes from grain, through production to sales and distribution. They have selected Columbus because of their experience and expertise in the Food and Beverage sector. The objectives of the new solution are to maximize efficiency and overall business performance. They want one solution that covers the entire process from manufacturing to distribution and retail.
"Columbus has more than 20 years of experience in the industry converting knowledge into value for food and beverage manufacturers."
Rıgas Piensaimnieks
Rıgas Piensaimnieks is a dairy manufacturer producing over 100 different products that are distributed all over the world. After many years of growth, the company had outgrown its legacy system, which was unable to provide sufficient financial figures and ensure proper business process management through correct planning and analysis. Columbus has helped Rıgas Piensaimnieks implement a single, integrated solution that supports the entire business process, reporting and analysis. This allows for better evaluation of effectiveness and planning of future work, transportation routes, stocks and production volumes. By using the new solution, Rıgas Piensaimnieks can register sales orders, calculate the customer's prices, promotions and generate sales invoices automatically.
"In the past, information on production and cost dynamics were difficult to access, but now it is available in real-time every day."
