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Transportation Insight's Rick Zaffarano Named 2017 Food Logistics Champion
HICKORY, NC (March 23, 2017) -Transportation Insight, a multi-modal lead logistics solutions provider receives national accolades as an end-to-end supply chain management firm with expertise serving clients in the food industry. Vice President of Consumer Product Solutions Rick Zaffarano was named a 2017 Food Logistics Champion: Rock Star of the Supply Chain by the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain.
"Rick has brought to Transportation Insight a wealth of knowledge and experience that significantly improves our ability to serve clients operating in the fresh and temperature-controlled logistics space. His unique understanding of the most efficient methods to aggregate, manage and transport freight - from a holistic perspective - positions him as an expertise multiplier for businesses operating in the retail and wholesale grocery sector," says Transportation Insight CEO Chris Baltz. "This recognition echoes what many in our industry already know: Rick is an agent of change for consumer packaged goods companies that are striving to adapt their supply chain network to keep pace with rapidly changing consumer desires."
The? Food Logistics'? Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain? recognizes influential individuals in the supply chain industry whose achievements, hard work and vision have shaped and attained milestones in safety, efficiency, productivity and innovation through the global food supply chain. From early pioneers and entrepreneurs to non-conformist thinkers and executive standouts, this award aims to honor these leaders and their contributions to our industry.
"A lot of times people think about supply chain in terms of trucks and/or freight, but if I only think in terms of truck-to-store or truck-to-DC, I'm not thinking about it holistically. I've learned to think instead about how I can most efficiently get that inventory and/or goods in your customer's basket or on their doorstep. If I can solve that, then the qualities that allow me to deliver that item into that basket - data, communication effectiveness, speed, accuracy - start to align. If you approach supply chain within that paradigm, then you are engineering it to ultimately serve your customer's customer," Zaffarano says. "I'm honored to receive this award that recognizes Transportation Insight's ability to help our clients identify and implement efficient practices throughout their supply chain."
With more than 30 years of experience in distribution operations, logistics and supply chain management for the food, fresh logistics and consumer packaged goods industries, Zaffarano brings to Transportation Insight a passion for combining big data with ideas to craft actionable solutions in the logistics and supply chain industry. Zaffarano delivers strategies and processes to help companies reduce landed cost and improve supply chain control, real-time visibility and chain of custody awareness from suppliers, carriers and distribution centers to the end customer.
As part of a Co-managed Logistics® approach, Zaffarano works alongside clients to establish vendor compliance processes that are monitored by Transportation Insight's proprietary freight bill audit and payment technology and ultimately help clients improve inventory turns for a shorter cash-to-cash cycle. Zaffarano leverages Transportation Insight's robust portfolio of services, including the Insight TMS ® transportation management system platform, to help clients improve carrier sourcing, optimize private fleets or outsource execution at any desired level. As a result, his clients can more effectively control inbound and outbound freight spending - all while achieving a level of end-to-end visibility that includes date/time stamps required to comply with regulations under the Food Safety and Modernization Act.
Before joining Transportation Insight, Zaffarano was Senior Vice President of West Coast Distributing Inc., a 3PL and supply chain consulting company serving the food industry. As Director of Supply Chain Services for leading grocery retailer Hannaford Bros. Co., he led a team responsible for analyzing, improving and supporting the company's supply chain. Practices implemented by Zaffarano and team enabled the company to meet consumer demand through improved procurement, inventory, inbound freight, warehousing, transportation and outbound delivery to retail stores. Zaffarano began his logistics career as Warehouse and Transportation Manager for Herkimer Wholesale following his service in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence.
"The diversity of this year's award winners reflects the growing complexity of the global food supply chain and the many people whose individual and collective successes are driving the industry to new heights," notes Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director at? Food Logistics.