Breakthru Beverage Illinois invests for long-term growth
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- Westfalia AS/RS
- Savanna.NET® WMS
- Satellite® system
Tech Stack
- Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS)
- Warehouse Management System (WMS)
- High Density Storage Systems
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Productivity Improvements
- Customer Satisfaction
Technology Category
- Automation & Control - Automation & Process Control Systems
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Food & Beverage
- Retail
Applicable Functions
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Warehouse Automation
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
Breakthru Beverage Illinois, originally known as Wirtz Beverage Group, is a family business founded in 1945 by Arthur Wirtz. The company is one of the first multi-state distributors and operates in Illinois, Nevada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. With combined revenues of $1.8 billion annually and 2,500 employees, Breakthru Beverage Illinois is a significant player in the beverage distribution industry. The company is built on values and a commitment to partnership, which has driven its long-term growth and success. As a multi-state distributor, Breakthru Beverage Illinois has a broad reach and a strong market presence, making it a key player in the beverage industry.
The Challenge
Like many companies in the beverage industry, Breakthru Beverage Illinois was faced with the challenge of expansion to support increased demand. The challenge was the fact that they were working out of three warehouses, which was totally inefficient. With the growth of their business, they started to see limitations in their ability to service customers during high peak times. They needed a warehouse that would provide the efficiencies required to match their go-to-market strategies as they continued to grow. Breakthru Beverage decided to build a new facility in Cicero, IL, understanding that they needed to invest for long-term growth. This reinvestment included site re-development of the former Sportsman’s Park. The 35-acre site lot was chosen to fit the 604,907 sq. ft. building, which included 555,449 sq. ft. of warehouse, 106,409 sq. ft. of office space, and 25,000 sq. ft. of cooler.
The Solution
Westfalia’s AS/RS provides Breakthru Beverage with the ability to adapt to changing market conditions while enabling future growth. Specializing in high-density storage systems, Westfalia’s AS/RS allows Breakthru Beverage to store up to 10 pallets deep while maintaining a balance of inventory and movements across the system. The 42-foot tall building is equipped with five high storage racks with three tandem Storage and Retrieval Machines (S/RM). Using the Satellite® system, storing and retrieving loads in Breakthru Beverage’s high-density configuration significantly increases storage capacity and reduces the system's footprint. The Satellite® system also provides triple support so the load weight is distributed evenly and more reliably in the rack. Westfalia’s Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management System is the power behind the AS/RS. Savanna.NET® provides control of all product flows and maximum system flexibility, allowing Westfalia to customize the functionality specific to Breakthru Beverage. This design led to cost and labor efficiency, with receiving docks set up in front of the AS/RS, cutting the receiving time of primary products in half.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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