Tag: McLane Company

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Berkshire Hathaway’s McLane Company, Inc., a leading U.S. distributor and key partner to major retail and restaurant brands, has its annual trade show this week, McLane Engage, in Nashville, Tennessee, with a refreshed format and several product announcements.

The event features keynote speaker Padma Lakshmi, renowned food expert and “Top Chef” personality, who will engage in a conversation with Farley Kaiser, McLane’s senior director of culinary innovation, about her career, cultural influences, and the future of retail foodservice.

This year’s McLane Engage reached full capacity for exhibitor space, with major brands like Hershey, Kraft Heinz, and Mars Wrigley showcasing a wide range of products. McLane’s digital marketplace, Emerging Brands, will feature several new exhibitors, expanding its offerings in health, beauty, wellness, and general merchandise.

Chris Smith, president of McLane Retail, highlighted the event’s role in showcasing industry innovation and providing suppliers with unique opportunities to present their latest products. McLane continues to evolve, aiming to stay ahead of industry trends and meet the changing needs of customers.

Attendees can look forward to new product launches, including McLane Fresh’s Better Case Bakery, a curated on-the-go bakery program, and a seasonal CupZa! pumpkin spice shot. McLane’s private label, Consumer Value Products, Inc., will also introduce new items from its Beau Dacious line of dog treats and accessories.

The three-day event includes educational sessions on AI in retail, convenience store design, and technology-driven transformation. It concludes with a farewell networking breakfast on Friday.

© 2024 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway-owned McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and a key partner to retail and restaurant brands, has announced the grand opening of its Innovation Kitchen at its headquarters in Temple, Texas.

“We are excited to unveil the McLane Innovation Kitchen, a space that embodies our dedication to innovation, collaboration, and a world-class customer experience,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer.

The state-of-the-art Innovation Kitchen is designed as a full-scale replica of a convenience store, showcasing cutting-edge retail foodservice equipment and products. It allows customers to see how various products and equipment fit into different store layouts and planograms. The space also highlights McLane Fresh, Emerging Brands, and CVP private label brands, offering customers the chance to sample products and explore marketing materials.

Beyond its showcase function, the Innovation Kitchen serves as a hub for development and innovation. The McLane Fresh team will use the space to conceptualize and test new menu items, catering to evolving consumer trends and customer requests. Customers are invited to sample these new creations, ensuring McLane stays at the forefront of product innovation and collaboration.

“This facility showcases our commitment to setting new standards for excellence in the industry and underscores our role as a trusted partner in our customers’ success,” Maurici added. “Through this platform for product testing, creation, and display, we have the opportunity to engage with customers at every stage of their retail foodservice journey.”

© 2024 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway-owned McLane Company Inc., a major distributor and trusted partner to retail and restaurant brands across the US, has introduced a game-changing initiative: Emerging Brands. This innovative platform allows convenience store owners to swiftly broaden their product range with new, inventive, and trending brands.

Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer, emphasized the evolving preferences of today’s consumers, who seek personalized shopping experiences. Emerging Brands caters to this demand with its adaptable model, offering retailers of all sizes a top-notch platform to tap into the growing desire for unique products.

McKinsey & Company research highlights that a significant portion of shoppers actively seek out new brands and products. Emerging Brands responds to this trend by providing retailers access to a diverse array of offerings, including local, new-to-market, small-batch, and values-driven products not typically available through traditional distribution channels. These products span popular categories like alternative snacks, salty and sweet snacks, and packaged sweets and candy.

Moreover, Emerging Brands facilitates rapid product testing with minimal order requirements, streamlined processing, and warehouse-less drop shipping, all seamlessly integrated with McLane’s existing order and payment systems. Powered by technology partner Mable, the digital marketplace offers intuitive browsing features such as location-based searches, dietary preferences, brand values, and category sorting. Customers can also curate their favorites and receive personalized product recommendations based on their preferences.

Arik Keller, founder and CEO of Mable, underscored the partnership’s aim to create a seamless eCommerce platform connecting emerging brands with retailers. The drop ship model, coupled with integration with McLane’s product systems, ensures a hassle-free procurement process akin to ordering from McLane’s warehouse brands.

McLane’s commitment to providing tailored solutions for retail and restaurant clients encompasses everything from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising. This initiative aims to empower smaller retailers while addressing logistical challenges faced by larger chains, ultimately enhancing the retail landscape with diverse and innovative offerings.

© 2024 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice solutions, has launched McLane EDGE, a digital platform that offers marketing and merchandising insights, the latest sales-building programs, services, promotions, category trends, and new products, plus valuable information to help retail businesses grow in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

The new digital platform combines McLane’s Strategic Merchandising Portal (SMP) and Strategic Merchandising Solutions Magazine (SMS) into one entity that is engaging and easy to navigate. The retailer can also order special offers and featured items directly from the McLane EDGE site.

McLane EDGE offers valuable, real-time information, such as:
• Featured items
• Special offers
• Category information
• Planograms
• Programs and services (Choice Chicken Program, Ready Pac Salads/Snacks, Fly Guys Pizza, etc.)
• News and Resources
• Videos and blogs (coming soon!)

McLane EDGE is a value add to current McLane customers. Current users of McLane’s Strategic Merchandising Portal (SMP) and Virtual Trade Show (VTS) can login to McLane EDGE with their existing credentials. New users can gain access to McLane EDGE by contacting their account manager or sales representative.

“McLane EDGE is now the place to turn for quick, up-to-the-minute information retailers need on marketing and merchandising, along with special offers that can be ordered right through the platform as well as news, planograms, and category info,” said Cassandra Matos, director of merchandising at McLane. “The digital age continues to revolutionize how strategic merchandising information is disseminated and acted on, and McLane is excited to be in the forefront.”

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice solutions, announced today that they have renewed their multi-year service agreement with RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.

McLane and RaceTrac’s relationship dates back to 1996, and McLane’s distribution services encompass all convenience store categories including tobacco, grocery, candy, snacks, and store supplies.

“McLane has been a valuable partner of RaceTrac and plays an integral role in keeping our stores supplied with the products our guests know and love,” says Natalie Morhous, president of RaceTrac. “We are looking forward to our continued partnership.”

McLane’s senior vice president of sales, Vito Maurici, agrees. “RaceTrac is a best-in-class retailer, and McLane is proud to support their growth and expansion initiatives. We anticipate continued success for both parties moving forward.”

RaceTrac is a privately held, family-owned corporation that operates more than 550 stores in six states. As a leader in the grocery convenience store marketplace, RaceTrac maintains its focus on growth, expecting approximately 10% year over year growth in store count as well as continuing a remodel program for a significant portion of their locations. RaceTrac is also expanding its portfolio to travel centers to better serve the professional driver and stores with an expanding diesel offering for small to mid-size fleet drivers.

Foodservice remains a key component of RaceTrac’s growth strategy by offering programs that resonate with their guests while expanding inside sales. McLane helps RaceTrac support these goals by leveraging their purchasing power, geographic distribution, and product assortment, allowing RaceTrac to offer competitive pricing across all of their stores.

“McLane helps ensure that we are able to grow and succeed. The reliability of their deliveries, both in completeness and accuracy, is essential for our stores to remain stocked and able to meet the needs of our guests,” says Jason Phillips, director of procurement at RaceTrac.

Under the renewed agreement, RaceTrac will continue to pull from seven of McLane’s 24 grocery distribution centers to provide excellent service to all of their locations. RaceTrac will also continue to utilize a number of McLane’s innovative solutions and value-adds, such as Virtual Trade Show (VTS), an internet-based trade show that offers new products and promotions from suppliers, and McLane Link, an online portal that allows retailers to access key information like order activity and metric data from their computer or tablet.

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice solutions, and Koupon, the leading promotion solution in the convenience store industry, have partnered to create a seamless integration of Koupon’s digital promotion platform with McLane’s Consumer Loyalty Program application.

McLane is well known for its innovative technology solutions for c-stores, and Koupon provides c-store retailers and CPG brands with the easiest solution to connect with shoppers and grow sales. Together, their partnership will allow c-store operators to take advantage of hundreds of industry CPG coupon offers within McLane’s Consumer Loyalty Program application, reducing product costs for both the retailer and the consumer.

Within McLane’s enhanced Consumer Loyalty Program application, consumers can access digital promotions powered by Koupon’s technology and redeem them at checkout.

There are a number of benefits to McLane and Koupon’s integrated solution, including:

• It is completely free to retailers who use McLane’s Consumer Loyalty Program.
• Consumers can search for and easily redeem coupons pertaining to their purchases at checkout.
• Consumers can receive and redeem store loyalty points based on their purchases, leading to additional offers and benefits.
• As new coupons are added, consumers can take advantage of them in real time.
• Integrated security identifies or limits age-restricted content.

“We are delighted to work with Koupon, who has distinguished itself as the industry leader in this space,” says Deon Johnson, vice president of development at McLane. “By working together, we created a solution that truly benefits both retailers and consumers.”

“This partnership is a significant milestone for the convenience store industry,” notes Brad Van Otterloo, CEO of Koupon. “Integrating Koupon’s digital promotion technology with McLane’s leading Consumer Loyalty Program will benefit the industry as a whole.”

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway’s McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice solutions, has renewed their multi-year contract with EG America.

McLane has serviced EG America for the past several years, and the new multi-year contract period began on April 18, 2020. McLane’s distribution services cover all convenience store categories including tobacco, grocery, candy, snacks, and store supplies.

EG America is a national convenience store retailer with 1,700 stores in 31 states. In the span of only two years, they have become a top five retailer with the acquisition of Kroger’s c-stores, Cumberland Farms, Minit Mart, Certified Oil, and Fastrac. As a leader in the grocery convenience store marketplace, EG America will continue to utilize McLane’s scale of 24 grocery distribution centers across the U.S. to provide excellent service to all of their locations, except for Cumberland Farms and Fastrac which self-distribute.

With McLane’s abundant resources, they will help EG America roll out their marketing plans nationwide and build on the brand equity of their acquired business. EG America plans to utilize McLane’s national, regional, and local data to maximize their offerings to consumers. McLane’s Virtual Trade Show (VTS), an online trade show offering new products, deals, and promotions, will provide EG Group with savings on critical items for their stores.
“Working with McLane has helped us add value to our business with their quick access to data analysis, as well as their impressive scale,” says George Fournier, president at EG America. “We look forward to our continued partnership.”

Vito Maurici, senior vice president of sales at McLane, agrees. “EG America is a valued McLane customer. During our relationship, they have shown great partnership in helping grow sales and profitability for both entities. We look forward to working with them for the next several years and beyond.”

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.