Author: maria.ramos

McLane Co. Inc. was recently honored as Service Provider of the Year by the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) at the group’s annual trade show in Las Vegas. 

The award is presented to a partner that exhibits exceptional and unwavering service to 7-Eleven franchisees, franchise owners associations and the National Coalition in its entirety.

NCASEF board members unanimously selected McLane for the 2023 award, commending the company for being a committed and fully engaged vendor partner.

“I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with McLane over the years,” said Sukhi Sandhu, chairman of NCASEF. “Their steadfast dedication and commitment to quality, efficiency and the success of our franchisees has made them an invaluable partner to us. We are proud to present McLane with this well-deserved award, and we look forward to shared success in the years to come.”

[Read more: McLane Explores Long-Term Solutions Following Pandemic-Driven Challenges at https://csnews.com/mclane-explores-long-term-solutions-following-pandemic-driven-challenges]

McLane has worked with 7-Eleven for the past 56 years and assists in servicing more than 9,200 7-Eleven stores across 38 states. Each year, McLane completes nearly 1 million deliveries to 7-Eleven locations, ranging from cold beverages to food and candy to health and beauty essentials.

“We are honored to receive this award and excited to continue growing our partnership with such an exceptional retailer,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer. “Our trusted partnership with 7-Eleven is something we’re incredibly proud of at McLane. Our amazing team works hard to bring the best in service, quality, efficiency and customer care, and we thank our teammates who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our partners’ success.”

McLane is one of the largest distributors in the United States, serving convenience stores, mass merchants and chain restaurants. It operates more than 80 distribution centers and one of the nation’s largest private truck fleets, and provides adult beverage distribution through its subsidiary, Empire Distributors. McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

McLane was named the 2023 Category Captain for General Merchandise by Convenience Store News.

Source: Convenience Store News

Two years ago, the pandemic shook up the supply chain like never before. Today, distributor McLane Co. is re-establishing itself with new technology, foodservice and a revamped trade show.

CSP Editor-in-Chief Steve Holtz discusses the distributor’s culture of continuous improvement and the state of distribution with McLane Grocery President Chris Smith (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4yekLe39UX0guDdcretnUh).

“At Your Convenience” brings industry experts and analysts together with CSP editors to discuss the latest in c-store news and trends. From mergers and acquisitions to foodservice and technology, the podcast delivers the story straight to listeners in short-format episodes, perfect for the morning commute or a quick break at the office.

• To hear more “At Your Convenience” podcasts visit https://www.cspdailynews.com/csp-podcast.

Source: Convenience Store Petroleum

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a near stop in early March 2020, but while schools, offices and entertainment venues shuttered, convenience stores kept operations going.

Continuing to serve its customers and communities while dealing with a health crisis was not easy, and the struggles continued notably in the form of supply chain disruption when the cities and states across the country lifted lockdown orders. More than three years later, some hiccups still exist.

“In our post-pandemic reality, the supply chain is stabilizing considerably, yet many businesses are continuing to grapple with the lasting effects of disruption to the convenience industry,” said Tony Frankenberger, CEO of McLane Co. Inc. “Global supply chain challenges profoundly impacted every facet of our ecosystem, and the industry came to a collective realization that the supply chain was more fragile than many businesses had anticipated. This realization prompted significant learning that reshaped our perspectives on operations, the workforce and long-term partnerships.”

In the months following March 2020, Temple-based McLane tapped into real-time data and advanced analytics to forecast scenarios and make informed decisions, ultimately prioritizing operational excellence, workforce stability and strategic partnerships, according to the company. As a result, the company established a stronger and more resilient system — leaving McLane better equipped to navigate future disruptions.

[Read more: McLane Trade Show Engages Convenience Channel at https://csnews.com/mclane-trade-show-engages-convenience-channel]

From an operations standpoint, McLane optimized inventory management, order fulfillment and logistics using advanced technology, ensuring streamlined operations and increased productivity.

At the same time, it focused on attracting and retaining top talent with competitive compensation packages, comprehensive training programs and ongoing professional development opportunities.

“In parallel, we continued to foster transparent communication and collaboration in the industry, strengthening our strategic partnerships with suppliers and retailers. This allowed us to share insights and proactively address challenges, resulting in a more cohesive and interconnected supply chain,” Frankenberger said.

“Going forward, we have the opportunity to align goals, measurements and processes across the industry to achieve a higher level of coordination and synchronization to the benefit of our businesses, partners and customers alike,” he added.

Meeting Future Obstacles

According to Frankenberger, the convenience store industry must remain extremely agile, forward-thinking and more prepared than ever to meet the challenges of any future disruption.

Turning to solutions like advanced data and analytics tools during and after the pandemic — and continuing to invest in those tools — can have a “significant impact across an enterprise, including in supply chain network design and engineering, facilities design and engineering, operations and transportation,” he noted.

“Predicting possible disruption is futile without the ability to respond to it,” the chief executive said. “Thus, using data-driven insights to take decisive action ensures continuous operations at the highest level, and that in a period of disruption, we maintain excellence for our customers.”

To that end, McLane addressed storage capacity, increased its fleet of vehicles, established new domiciles and a new distribution center, and implemented new standard operating procedures since the pandemic.

The pandemic did not just give rise to supply chain disruptions; it also gave rise to labor woes across industries. Citing October 2023 data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Frankenberger pointed out that are still 1.4 million fewer Americans working than in February 2020.

“Having a stable and reliable workforce is the foundation of a successful supply chain, and addressing the labor shortage requires a multipronged approach to boost both retention and hiring,” he said. “In our industry, retention translates to improved safety and efficiency, and it is our responsibility to maintain excellent standards for both regardless of the labor climate.”

To help combat the labor challenges, McLane has taken steps to attract new teammates and retain its existing ones. For example, the company now explores different driver classifications outside Class A in certain markets for operating box trucks as opposed to full tractors. It also invested in technology to provide similar flexibility to our existing teammates. 

Above all, Frankenberger said, the pandemic underscored the necessity of transparency and real-time visibility on performance throughout the supply chain ecosystem. “Communication within the supply chain ecosystem has undergone a significant transformation. We collaborate more closely now with retailers and suppliers, establishing shared goals and implementing measures to ensure sufficient inventory in anticipation of shortages,” he said. “These relationships are based on honesty and accountability, with each business taking ownership for their part in the supply chain and informing industry partners when challenges arise.”

McLane is one of the largest distributors in the United States, serving convenience stores, mass merchants and chain restaurants. It operates more than 80 distribution centers and one of the nation’s largest private truck fleets, and provides adult beverage distribution through its subsidiary, Empire Distributors. McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

McLane was named the 2023 Category Captain for General Merchandise by Convenience Store News.

Source: Convenience Store News

“It’s the right moment for McLane to truly transform,” said Eric Hildenbrand, chief strategy officer for McLane Company. “We want to use the past to drive us forward.”

When it comes to McLane, that can be taken both figuratively and literally. With an origin story dating back to 1894, there are a lot of learnings to apply, and with one of the largest private fleets delivering to almost every U.S. ZIP code, that’s a lot of driving.

The corporate transformation now in play includes pushing even deeper into data management and data security, evolving digital solutions to drive the omnichannel experience, cementing customer relationships, building growth through strategic retail partnerships and re-envisioning McLane’s food program. “Things are developing quickly in the c-store industry,” Hildenbrand said. “We have set out to become more agile in meeting customer needs as we both go down this changing road together.”

There are a vast number of things happening on the technology side at McLane, including a sophisticated blockchain solution, greater visibility into the supply chain, expanding applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence—and a lot more analytics. “It’s a continuous transformation in these areas and we continue to invest in them,” Hildebrand said. “We will continue to leverage our insights to be a catalyst for our customers’ growth.”

The heart of the investment is understanding customers’ needs and any friction they may have. By operating at the nexus of partnership, trust, transparency, data and analytics, McLane becomes a catalyst for the success—and growth—of its partners.

Supply chain confidence may be the most top-of-mind friction point for many. “The pandemic taught us a lot and we won’t take those learnings and experiences for granted. Then and now, standing shoulder to shoulder with our customers and suppliers, we strive to deliver with operational excellence—ensuring the right product at the right time,” said Vito Maurici, customer experience officer for McLane. Maurici fills a new role, underscoring McLane’s commitment to serving its customers.

McLane continues to work in tandem and develop strategic partnerships with operators. Indeed, in recent years the company strengthened those relationships by adding in greater flexibility to meet customer needs. “Our customers have asked us to do some things differently, and we pivoted, leaned into change and continued to listen as their strategic partner for growth,” said Maurici. “At the core of our transformation is understanding and creating a superior customer experience. I think that we have only scratched the surface in our transformation of meeting customer needs, and I am truly excited for what’s ahead.”

Two critical elements McLane brings to the table for all customers: scale and trust. The company will draw from those strengths as it expands its narrative around foodservice. “We are experts at managing the supply chain to get our customers what they need. As consumer trends and customer needs evolve, as they have for fresh food, we are well positioned and prepared to execute with excellence in all areas of foodservice,” said Maurici.

McLane is prepared to meet convenience retailers wherever they are in their foodservice journey, whether that means a roller grill program or a more expansive offering like pizza. What’s right for one operator doesn’t have to be right for another.

“The program goes much further and deeper than just a menu,” said Farley Kaiser, senior director of culinary innovation at McLane and a classically trained chef. “We take a holistic approach, from vendors to the food supply side; we proactively take care of it all to meet the needs of operators.”

To continue reading about McLane, visit https://www.nacsmagazine.com/Issues/October-2023/As-Convenience-Transforms-So-Does-McLane?_gl=1*1qdp4nl*_gcl_au*NDQ3Mzc2MzI0LjE2OTY5NDAyMzg.&_ga=2.5119994.819674994.1696940238-240831571.1696940238.

Source: NACS Online

7-Eleven announced at its National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) trade show that it has named McLane Co. as the Service Provider of the Year.

This remarkable accolade is awarded to the partner exhibiting exceptional and unwavering service to 7-Eleven franchisees, Franchise Owners Associations (FOAs) and the National Coalition in its entirety.

The award was decided unanimously by NCASEF board members in favor of McLane, and they have lauded McLane as a committed and fully engaged vendor partner.

“I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with McLane over the years,” said Sukhi Sandhu, chairman of NCASEF. “Their steadfast dedication and commitment to quality, efficiency and the success of our franchisees has made them an invaluable partner to us. We are proud to present McLane with this well-deserved award, and we look forward to shared success in the years to come.”

McLane has noted that the reasoning for this distinguished award stems from its resolute alignment with NCASEF’s vision. McLane has worked with 7-Eleven for the past 56 years and assists in servicing more than 9,200 7-Eleven locations spanning 38 states. McLane completes nearly one million deliveries to 7-Elevens each year, carrying a wide range of products from cold beverages, food and candy to health and beauty essentials.

“We are honored to receive this award and excited to continue growing our partnership with such an exceptional retailer,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer. “Our trusted partnership with 7-Eleven is something we’re incredibly proud of at McLane. Our amazing team works hard to bring the best in service, quality, efficiency and customer care, and we thank our teammates who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our partners’ success.”

McLane offers tailored solutions for retail and restaurant customers from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising. McLane’s partnership serves to eliminate barriers of entry for smaller retailers and solve complex logistical challenges for large chains. More information can be found on the company’s website.

Founded in 1894, McLane Co. is one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants and chain restaurants. As an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant businesses, McLane buys, sells, delivers and serves the world’s most popular brands.

Source: Convenience Store Decisions

Convenience stores are synonymous with summer travel across the United States. So, it seems appropriate that McLane Co. Inc. would wrap up its 2023 McLane Engage national tradeshow with closing keynoter Chet Garner presenting the rules of the road.

As host and star of the PBS travel documentary show “Daytripper,” Garner is familiar with the rules — and they not only apply to travel, but also to everyday life and business, he said. According to the Texas native, eight rules to remember are:

1. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
2. Sometimes the right road isn’t paved.
3. Passion is your best fuel.
4. The road is long, bring snacks.
5. The fastest route is not always the best route.
6. Wrong turns are only wrong if you let them be.
7. The people are more important than the road.
8. We are all storytellers, some of us just don’t know it.

“We are all ambassadors for the places from where we come. We just have to lean into it,” Garner said, adding that convenience stores are ambassadors for their communities.

The State of the C-store Consumer

Those eight tips are key for convenience store operators and their partners in the supply chain to keep in mind as the channel’s consumers continue to face headwinds brought on by economic uncertainty.

Is the United States heading toward a recession? According to Nik Modi, analyst with RBC Capital, it doesn’t matter what a recession is — it’s just a technical term. What matters, he said during a session entitled “State of the Union: The Economy, the Consumer, and the Convenience Channel,” is how the consumer feels.

[Read more: McLane Trade Show Engages Convenience Channel at https://csnews.com/mclane-trade-show-engages-convenience-channel]

“It just means that we have two straight quarters of GDP [gross domestic product] decline. That’s all it is. It doesn’t really get to how consumers are feeling and some of the concerns they might have for the future that might impact spending patterns,” Modi said, citing that inflation is having a delayed effect on consumer thinking and behavior.

For example, retailers are starting to see consumers trade down across all income classes, not just the lower and middle classes. “Even at McDonald’s, people are opting not to buy a side of fries. I don’t know if it can get any worse than that,” Modi added.

“This is not just about a lower-ranking-income consumer anymore. We’re starting to see things trickle out to the broader population,” he pointed out. “Sorry to say folks, and I know it’s probably not the message you want, but I do think it’s going to get worse.”

What does this mean for the convenience channel? According to Modi, it’s all about value, which can take several forms like promotions and private label products. Tradedowns also take several forms, including package size, delayed purchases, switching retailers to find lower price points and buy now, pay later options.

To meet the consumer shift toward value, he advised c-store retailers to exploit the relative value, but be purposeful. For example, consumers can buy a 12-pack of beverages and still get a good relative value, yet retailers and manufacturers need to convey that value. “Are you signaling it on your packaging? Are you signaling it in merchandising displays on the front of the window? Are you exploiting relative value? What does it offer within the store vs. what comes outside of the store?” he posed.

Modi also recommended that convenience channel players think about how they can become part of the at-home occasion, especially if unemployment ticks up and people go out less. “What can you do so you don’t fall victim to people spending more time at home and not in your store?” he asked, suggesting ideas like “movie night” bundles with snacks and beverages.

“I think when you think about relative value, you think about what’s going on with the economy. There’s a lot of opportunity for the channel to really be involved in some of these dynamics, but we have to communicate them in the right way so it’s part of the consumer’s thinking and thought process,” he said.

The McLane Engage convention took place Aug. 29-31 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The newly imagined tradeshow experience featured booths from more than 160 exhibitors, as well as a new products showcase. The event also provided the opportunity to build meaningful connections with industry powerhouses and learn from notable experts at a series of educational sessions. 

Temple, Texas-based McLane Co. is one of the largest supply chain services companies in the United States. Through McLane Grocery and McLane Foodservice, it operates more than 80 distribution centers and one of the nation’s largest private truck fleets, and provides alcoholic beverage distribution through its subsidiary, Empire Distributors.

McLane is a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Source: Convenience Store News

McLane Co. Inc. unveiled McLane Fresh today during its national trade show, McLane Engage, in Dallas. McLane Fresh is an expanded foodservice-at-retail program designed for convenience stores and intended to elevate the dining experience in c-stores.

Convenience stores are seeing an increase in demand for and sales of fresh and higher-quality food products from consumers seeking healthier on-the-go options. As a result, retailers are elevating their foodservice programs and in-store experiences to compete with fast-food and quick-service restaurants.

“Fresh-food programs present a tremendous opportunity for convenience-store operators of all sizes—from independently owned locations to nationwide chains. McLane Fresh provides a full suite of foodservice-at-retail solutions,” said Chris Smith, president of McLane Retail. “The exciting lineup of products and services introduced today are just the beginning of a comprehensive offering designed to meet the growing demands of consumers and provide retailers the products and services they need to be successful.”

During the McLane Engage event, 1,100 attendees, including McLane customers and suppliers, will have the opportunity to experience a taste of McLane Fresh with new products on display at the McLane booth. The new McLane Fresh family of brands includes CupZa!, a “reimagined” beverage program; a proprietary pizza program; and an expanded selection of McLane’s grab-and-go brand, Central Eats.

CupZa! features artisan coffees, cold brews, teas and lemonades with new flavors and drink styles, offering value and variety to retailers, McLane said. Central Eats’ new chef-inspired menu items will satisfy growing demand for healthier options on the go, it said. Attendees also are being introduced to fresh-baked pizza tailored for convenience.

“We are committed to being a strategic growth partner to our customers,” said Vito Maurici, customer experience officer at McLane. “McLane Fresh anticipates and seamlessly fulfills the dynamic expectations of today’s consumers, positioning convenience stores as hubs for culinary excellence on the go. This expansion underscores McLane’s commitment to delivering exceptional foodservice products and services for our customers wherever they are on their foodservice journey.”

Menu innovation for McLane Fresh will be led by accomplished corporate culinary chef Farley Kaiser, who recently joined the company as senior director of culinary innovation. Kaiser previously served as senior director of fresh food and beverage at GetGo Café + Market and brings extensive experience cultivating growth and culinary excellence through strategic initiatives as the corporate executive chef for leading convenience and restaurant brands, and culinary department chair at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.

In addition to a robust selection of on-trend items, McLane Fresh provides marketing support, merchandising, competitively priced equipment bundles and expert guidance to meet retailers where they are on their foodservice journey, McLane said. From independents to nationwide chains, McLane customers can differentiate their food offerings by using McLane’s commissary kitchen network to offer shorter shelf-life products with more frequent deliveries to ensure quality and freshness.

Founded in 1894, McLane Co. Inc. is one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. With headquarters in Temple, Texas, McLane has more than 80 distribution centers across the country. McLane is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

The McLane Engage tradeshow continues through Thursday in Dallas.

Source: Convenience Store Petroleum

McLane Co. Inc. is elevating the foodservice experience for convenience retailing with the unveiling of McLane Fresh at its national trade show, McLane Engage, taking place Aug. 29-31 in Dallas.

During McLane Engage, attendees can experience a taste of McLane Fresh, whose family of brands include CupZa!, a reimagined and revolutionary beverage program; a proprietary pizza program; and an expanded selection of McLane’s highly successful grab-and-go brand, Central Eats.

Convenience stores are seeing an increase in demand for and sales of fresh and higher-quality food products from consumers seeking healthier on-the-go options. As a result, convenience stores are elevating their foodservice programs and in-store experiences to compete with fast food and quick-service restaurants, McLane stated.

[Read more: 2023 Category Captain for General Merchandise: McLane Co. Inc. at https://csnews.com/2023-category-captain-general-merchandise-mclane-co-inc]

“Fresh food programs present a tremendous opportunity for convenience store operators of all sizes — from independently owned locations to nationwide chains. McLane Fresh provides a full suite of foodservice at retail solutions,” said Chris Smith, president of McLane Retail. “The exciting lineup of products and services introduced today are just the beginning of a comprehensive offering designed to meet the growing demands of consumers and provide retailers the products and services they need to be successful.”

CupZa! features artisan coffees, cold brews, teas and lemonades with new flavors and drink styles, offering unparalleled value and variety to retailers, according to McLane. Central Eats’ new chef-inspired menu items expand and satisfy growing demand for healthier options on the go. Attendees were also introduced to fresh-baked pizza uniquely tailored for convenience.

“We are committed to being a strategic growth partner to our customers,” said Vito Maurici, customer experience officer at McLane. “McLane Fresh anticipates and seamlessly fulfills the dynamic expectations of today’s consumers, positioning convenience stores as hubs for culinary excellence on the go. This expansion underscores McLane’s commitment to delivering exceptional foodservice products and services for our customers wherever they are on their foodservice journey.”

[Read more: McLane Showcases Technology & Foodservice Upgrades at In-Person Show at https://csnews.com/mclane-showcases-technology-foodservice-upgrades-person-show]

Menu innovation for McLane Fresh will be led by corporate culinary chef Farley Kaiser, who recently joined the company as senior director of culinary innovation. Kaiser previously served as senior director of fresh food and beverage at Pittsburgh-based GetGo Café+Market. He brings extensive experience cultivating growth and culinary excellence through strategic initiatives as the corporate executive chef for leading convenience and restaurant brands, and culinary department chair at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.

In addition to a robust selection of on-trend items, McLane Fresh provides marketing support, merchandising, competitively priced equipment bundles and expert guidance to meet retailers where they are on their foodservice journey. Both independents and nationwide chain customers can differentiate their food offerings by utilizing McLane’s commissary kitchen network to offer shorter shelf-life products with more frequent deliveries to ensure quality and freshness, the distributor said.

More information on McLane Fresh and other convenience store solutions from McLane is available here.

Temple-based McLane is one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants and chain restaurants with more than 80 distribution centers across the country. McLane is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Source: Convenience Store News