Church's Chicken Applies ArrowStream OnDemand to Automate Supply Chain Processes

Chicago-based supply chain technology vendor ArrowStream is helping Church's Chicken improve the efficiency of inbound product deliveries at its retail stores and control IT costs. Improving store-level efficiency is one of the keys to the fast food chain's growth goals.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 4, 2008 -- ArrowStream, a leading provider of supply chain management and logistics solutions for the foodservice industry, announced that it is working with Church's Chicken to help the leading fast food chain improve the efficiency of inbound product deliveries at its retail stores while helping the restaurant chain control IT costs.

Improving store-level efficiency is one of the keys to the chain's growth goals.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY FOR CONSUMER AND FRANCHISE SATISFACTION

Church's Chicken is using ArrowStream OnDemand for its automated purchasing solution that increases efficiencies, can be quickly utilized, and integrates seamlessly with Church's distributors' systems.

Church's identified invoice management as an application that could quickly deliver efficiencies with ArrowStream OnDemand. Managers at each of Church's 260 U.S. stores were spending about one and one-half hours processing invoices for each of the twice-weekly distribution deliveries.

"With the new automated system, it now takes the average manager just five minutes an invoice, offering time savings of about 500 man hours per week," said David Taylor, director of restaurant systems for Church's Chicken. "This allows restaurant managers to spend more time on customer service, which ultimately improves customer satisfaction and store profitability."

"ArrowStream was unique for three reasons. First, it allowed us to get the system running quickly, with no investment in hardware and software," said Alan Stukalsky, CIO, Church's Chicken. "It offered complete visibility from the supplier to the backdoor of the store and includes logistics information. And it synchronized our distributors' data with our own."

AUTOMATE PURCHASING PROCESSES WITH LOW TCO

Stukalsky believes that low cost of ownership is also enabling Church's to redirect resources to channels that deliver more direct value to its customers.

"OnDemand has dramatically reduced the amount of time previously spent by Church's store managers on intense administrative work, enabling them to focus more time and energy on customer service and operating their business. This is a powerful benefit for chain restaurants in today's competitive market," said Rodger Mullen, president and COO of ArrowStream.

About ArrowStream
ArrowStream has helped chain operators and distributors in the food service industry to more effectively manage their supply chain and reduce logistics costs by an average of 20 percent. ArrowStream's suite of online applications gives chain operators and manufacturers tools to synchronize and manage their supply chain data, thereby enabling panoramic visibility into the supply chain. This applications suite has a lower total cost of ownership that is proven to save time and improve decision-making regarding product supply, pricing, and LTO promotion management. ArrowStream's management team, with more than 60 years of experience in the food service, software, and logistics industries, developed an innovative logistics management network that optimizes each customer's inventory replenishment and routing, and substantially reduces transportation costs. To learn more, visit www.ArrowStream.com.

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