MIAMI--August 29, 2012: Ryder System, Inc. , a leader in supply chain, warehousing and transportation management solutions, today announced that the company and its customer, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, a leading grocery retailer, have received the prestigious LQ (Logistics Quarterly) 2012 Best Third Party Logistics (3PL) Performer in Sustainability Award. This annual awards program recognizes third-party logistics providers that work closely with their customers to demonstrate leadership and innovation in sustainable supply chain practices. Ryder and Fresh & Easy are being recognized for implementing innovative, sustainable practices that have resulted in improved service, environmental performance, and cost effectiveness in Fresh & Easy's supply chain operations.
“Ryder and Fresh & Easy have demonstrated that sustainable logistics and transportation practices can contribute positively to a company's business operations, profitability, and reputation.”
"The LQ 3PL Sustainability Awards program is designed to recognize that some of the best sustainability practices are achieved through collaboration between 3PLs and their key customers," said Fred Moody, Editor and Publisher, LQ. "Ryder and Fresh & Easy have demonstrated that sustainable logistics and transportation practices can contribute positively to a company's business operations, profitability, and reputation."
Fresh & Easy currently operates 199 grocery stores in California, Arizona and Nevada and relies on a total fleet of 74 vehicles managed by Ryder to support grocery and perishable store deliveries from its Riverside, California distribution center. Services provided by Ryder include Temperature Controlled Dedicated Transportation, Inbound Freight Management, and Reverse Logistics.
Ryder has collaborated with Fresh & Easy to implement various technologies and multiple network design initiatives, such as route modeling and optimization, which have lowered miles run and thereby reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Ryder also provides Fresh & Easy with carbon footprint data, including CO2 savings, on the operations that Ryder manages and vehicle emissions associated with the transportation of Fresh & Easy products.
Ryder's dedicated fleet for Fresh & Easy includes on-board fleet management and mobile communications systems that help to monitor and correct driver behaviors such as speed, idling time, and engine revving that impact fuel efficiency and emissions. Ryder is also currently running 27% of Fresh & Easy's Southern California fleet with compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles -- the first of their kind in the grocer's fleet. Ryder has implemented a CNG metrics dashboard for Fresh & Easy that measures the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the number of miles run with the CNG units versus what the emissions would have been if the miles had been run with diesel units.
"As a good neighbor we have made a commitment to innovate and invest in environmentally-friendly technologies," said Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason. "The sustainable supply chain and transportation initiatives we work on with Ryder not only help the environment, but also drive efficiencies in our operations that keep our prices low so our customers can continue to save money."
The LQ 3PL Sustainability Award Evaluation Committee was comprised of leading executives and academics from the U.S. and Canada. Ryder and Fresh & Easy were selected as the Best 2012 3PL Performers in Sustainability following presentations from four finalists on July 17th at LQ's Symposium in Toronto, Canada. In addition to collaboration, LQ's Evaluation Committee considered each 3PL finalist's strategic vision in this area, as well as their performance in economic, environmental and societal areas of sustainability.
"More than ever, companies are realizing the environmental benefits that come from outstanding supply chain execution," said John Williford, President of Global Supply Chain Solutions for Ryder. "Our collaboration with Fresh & Easy demonstrates that applying creative engineering expertise and state-of-the art technology can result in measurable and sustainable value."
Ryder has been a LQ Top North American 3PL Supplier for eight consecutive years.
About Ryder
Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions company. Ryder's stock is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Inbound Logistics magazine has recognized Ryder as a top third party logistics provider and green supply chain partner. Ryder has also been ranked two years in a row as one of the top 250 U.S. companies in the Newsweek Green Rankings. In addition, Security Magazine has named Ryder one of the top companies for security practices in the transportation, logistics, supply chain, and warehousing sector. Ryder is a proud member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, supporting national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts.
About Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market
Fresh & Easy operates more than 190 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada. All of Fresh & Easy's products, including the freshly prepared meals, are made with the highest quality ingredients and contain no artificial colors, flavors, high-fructose corn syrup or added trans fats. Fresh & Easy also offers fresh baked goods, meats and produce, as well as favorite national brand products and household items, all at great low prices.
About LQ
LQ's mandate is to provide ideas for leadership in logistics and transportation for logisticians, supply chain management practitioners, transportation management and other senior-level executives in the United States and Canada who are engaged in leading and transforming their businesses. Since its founding in 1995, LQ has upheld a tradition to be logistics and transportation publication written by professionals for professionals in the field - affording authoritative thinking on the complex and fast-changing work of the logistics and transportation business in Canada and the United States.
About the LQ 3PL Sustainability Study
LQ's Sustainability Study and Awards Program, which features North America's Best 3PL Performers in Sustainability, continues to be a mark of excellence for private and publicly held 3PLs in the United States and Canada. The members of LQ's 3PL Sustainability Study and Awards (2012) Evaluation Committee included: Dave Closs, PhD, LQ Executive Editor, and Professor, Michigan State University; Bill Horrocks, Vice President, Supply Chain/Logistics at Rogers Communications Inc.; Cliff Lynch, C.F. Lynch & Associates; Loray Mosher, PhD., Assistant Director at the Supply Chain Management Research Center (SCMRC), Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas; Kate Vitasek, Founder, Supply Chain Visions and a faculty member at the University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education. The four finalists were selected by LQ's Executive Editors, based on applications submitted earlier this year by 3PLs and their clients documenting their best practices together. This year, 30 leading North American 3PLs registered to participate in LQ's 3PL Study and Awards Program. More information on LQ's 3PL Sustainability Study and Awards Program is available at: LQ3PL Study