Bob Evans Farms – Case Study

Success Starts in the Yard: Bob Evans Farms Benchmarks Supply Chain Execution

After partnering with Kaleris to accelerate their yard operations, Bob Evans Farms reduced their loaded reefer hours by nearly 40% ​​​​​​​— that’s 134,000 hours. They also achieved estimated savings of over $471,000 in fuel and repairs and maintenance alone.

For 75 years, Bob Evans Farms has delivered quick-to-table, farm-inspired food that makes mealtime easier and more delicious. What began as a small family sausage company in Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1948 quickly grew thanks to a focus on quality. Today, Bob Evans Farms is a leading producer and distributor of refrigerated dinner sides and breakfast items including the Bob Evans brand, Simply Potatoes, Egg Beaters and Owens Sausage, sold in grocery stores nationwide. While the value to customers is strikingly simple, the logistics behind distributing these products nationwide are complicated.

Bob Evans Farms sought to balance scaling operations with ensuring quality and freshness so it could continue meeting customers’ expectations. At first, Bob Evans Farms managed its logistics operations – its manufacturing centers, warehouses and the yards around them – manually. As the business grew, they evaluated where and how to optimize their supply chain operations to best advance their mission. They started by automating select warehouse and manufacturing processes, with positive results.

Continuing their process evaluation, the next logical step was to examine how they could apply these same strategies to yard operations. As a pivotal node in their supply chain, efficient yard operations would help ensure grocers and their shoppers receive fresh products fast.

The company partnered with Kaleris, adopting the Kaleris YMS to optimize and digitalize yard operations. By introducing a digital solution to manage yard activities, Bob Evans Farms reduced loaded reefer hours by nearly 40 percent, saving 134,000 hours of wasted time. The company also saved nearly $500,000 in fuel costs, repairs, and maintenance by reducing idle time. By accelerating truck turns in the yard and reducing inactive time, grocers keep their shelves stocked and customers enjoy the freshest products. Drivers and yard team members also have enhanced work experience since the system reduces operational friction points.

Bob Evans Farms strives to be a great partner to every stakeholder in their supply chain, from team members to business partners to customers to their customer’s customer.

Read Bob Evans Farms’ feature story in Retail Today’s 2024 Grocery feature

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