Case Study: Reddy Ice
What does it take to become the largest manufacturer of commercial ice in the country?
A major emphasis on organization.
Modernize Your Warehouse
If you’ve ever flown out of Denver International Airport, you’ve probably sipped a beverage made a little colder by Reddy Ice—one of their 68 facilities across 32 states is located nearby. With so many warehouses and distribution centers to keep track of, they scarcely had time to find new ways to make one of their Denver locations run a little more efficiently. In this case study, you’ll learn all about how Southwest Warehouse Solutions was able to take their performance and productivity to the next level with cutting-edge vehicles and machinery.
The Problem
Reddy Ice’s Denver location doesn’t just service the needs of companies in Colorado; they also provide ice for parts of Wyoming and New Mexico. With such a broad, expansive customer base, they needed a solution that maximized productivity while still maintaining a high level of quality. Like all of their locations, Reddy Ice Denver had to move large pallets of ice in a temperature-controlled space. They needed vehicles that could support heavy loads, without having to worry about whether or not they’d be able to support it.
The Solution
The right fleet of vehicles can make all the difference in terms of performance, productivity, and efficiency. Reddy Ice’s headquarters is located in Dallas, Texas, and was able to coordinate with one of our providers there on establishing a fleet for all of their locations nationwide. Developing a strategy that encompassed every single location was difficult, but our team was more than up to the task.
“Putting together a national program with a supplier who could handle their needs was a critical element to a successful Fleet Management Program,” said Jason Bratton, director of fleet services at Shoppa’s (a Texas distributor of Toyota forklifts). “[They] developed a plan focused on lowering the total cost of ownership through a standardized equipment replacement schedule with structured leases through Toyota’s partner, Toyota Commercial Finance.”
Toyota forklifts were the perfect solution for retrieving pallets of ice bags from the freezer and loading them directly onto reefer trailers and delivery trucks. In Denver, two of the forklifts are equipped with Cascade Single-Double fork attachments, allowing each truck to pick, transport, and load two pallets side by side, saving time and vastly improving processes.
The Result
With so many moving parts to account for, not a single vehicle could afford to be below Reddy Ice’s standards. Our team worked closely with them throughout the entire project’s lifecycle, ensuring that what we delivered was the right fit for their workflow.
“Toyota trucks are very reliable,” said Joey Tasher, marketing manager at Reddy Ice. “They have reacted very well to the cold environment as well as to the effects of going in and out of the freezer. The products are very strong and provide us the ability to really complete our job in an effective manner.”
Interested in how our team can maximize performance in your warehouse? Reach out to SWWS today for more information.
