Key Takeaways

  • VMI a key part of sales and distribution strategy since early 1990’s
  • Benefits of VMI to both Ocean Spray and retail partners well recognized
  • Smooth transition to TrueCommerce Datalliance VMI increases analyst productivity and positions for program growth

About the Customer

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. (Ocean Spray) is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 Growers (cranberry and grapefruit) throughout the United States, Canada and Chile. Headquartered in Lakeville, Massachusetts, Ocean Spray is the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries as well as the leader in the grapefruit juice category in North America. Ocean Spray has sales exceeding $2 billion annually and employs over 2,000 people worldwide

The Solution

Ocean Spray learned about TrueCommerce Datalliance from other CPG companies already using it as their VMI platform. Those companies shared success stories (that they had reduced costs while improving VMI analyst productivity) by moving to TrueCommerce Datalliance VMI. Ocean Spray felt like that was worth looking into and contacted TrueCommerce.

After a demonstration from TrueCommerce Datalliance and a technical review by the Ocean Spray IT department, the company performed a brief pilot with one customer. The Customer Operations team then evaluated TrueCommerce Datalliance vs. their current VMI tool based on a number of key attributes including ease-of-use, navigation, functionality, supplier strategy (i.e. vision for VMI), supplier enhancement process (i.e. was it community-driven), efficiency, ease of reporting, feedback from other manufacturers and the retailers they serve, and support services. Based on that evaluation, the decision was made to transition to TrueCommerce.

The big difference we’ve seen is a 20% increase in analyst productivity, attributed to the ease of navigation of the TrueCommerce Datalliance tool as well as the accessibility of pertinent data to enable informed decision-making.

Liz Tavres, Senior Manager Global Customer Operations

Our VMI analysts now have more time to focus on ways to improve our key metrics, analyze the effectiveness of promotional events (e.g. timing, lift, displays), and drive increased supply chain efficiencies. As we had hoped, we are now in a position where we can pursue expansion of our VMI program to additional partners and locations.

Liz Tavres, Senior Manager Global Customer Operations

Brand Element

Detailed Results & Business Impact

Today, Ocean Spray supports all VMI programs using TrueCommerce Datalliance VMI.

“As expected, we’ve maintained our ‘days of supply’ and ‘out of stocks’ performance across the board,” says Tavares. “The big difference we’ve seen is a 20% increase in analyst productivity, attributed to the ease of navigation of the TrueCommerce Datalliance tool as well as the accessibility of pertinent data to enable informed decision-making. Our VMI analysts now have more time to focus on ways to improve our key metrics, analyze the effectiveness of promotional events (e.g. timing, lift, displays), and drive increased supply chain efficiencies. As we had hoped, we are now in a position where we can pursue expansion of our VMI program to additional partners and locations.”