WASHINGTON, D.C. – United Fresh announced the availability of a first-ever benchmarking report designed specifically to help produce wholesalers and distributors evaluate the effectiveness of their operations. United Fresh commissioned the report in response to member company needs for assessing the performance of their operations as compared with others in the produce industry.
“The Wholesaler-Distributor board identified benchmarking data as a key resource needed for our industry,” said Lisa Strube, director of finance for Strube Celery & Vegetable Company and chairman of the Wholesaler-Distributor board. “This resource will help fellow produce wholesalers and distributors identify key operational areas that affect business performance and help these companies stay competitive in the marketplace.”
Prepared by research firm Industry Insights, the report allows produce companies to compare their labor practices, sales practices, procurement and inventory management, warehouse metrics and outbound transportation by ownership type (family or private), primary customer business segment, produce sales and case volume, number of full-time employees, warehouse square footage and geography.
United’s Wholesaler-Distributor board oversaw the development of the report, devising the survey questions and providing input on organizing the data. “The Wholesaler-Distributor board played an extensive role in developing this resource for United,” said Miriam Wolk, vice president of membership & marketing and staff liaison to the Wholesaler-Distributor board. “Their expertise was crucial to this project, and the board plans to explore additional benchmarking resources that can benefit the wholesale & distribution sectors.”
Ron Carkoski, CEO of Four Seasons Family of Companies and past chairman of the Wholesaler-Distributor board, will present an overview of the report at the Wholesaler-Distributor Super Session at United Fresh 2014 in Chicago on Thursday, June 12 at 9 a.m.
The report is available for purchase via the United Fresh website. Companies that submitted data are eligible to receive a fully-customized report for their company at a deeply discounted rate of $95. Non-survey participants can order a survey report for $195 for United Fresh members and $295 for non-members. For more information on the report, please contact Miriam Wolk at 202-303-3410
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association