Temperature Controlled

By leveraging our proprietary technology, assets, and expertise, Weber Distribution is well equipped to offer diversified and integrated logistics solutions for temperature controlled product.

With services ranging from variable temperature storage to cross-docking and refrigerated LTL pool distribution, Weber Distribution is meeting the demands of perishables companies, including large manufacturers such as The Hershey Company, Mission Foods, and Mother's Cookies.

Unique Needs of the Industry
From candy to snack foods to produce, successful perishable food sales depend upon the availability in the marketplace of fresh product. On top of the usual shipment protocol required for moving consumer goods in a time-sensitive supply chain, temperature controlled food shipments have limited shelf-life and demand special handling, both in storage and in transport. Consumers expect and demand attractive, good tasting and fresh products.

To guarantee that perishable food product reaches the consumer, a high priority must be placed on climate control both in the warehouse and during the transit of the product. Environmental conditions must be carefully controlled to preserve freshness and good taste in perishable products. Extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity must be avoided, whenever possible, because they can accelerate aging and reduce the shelf-life of the product.

Benefits to the Temperature Controlled Supply Chain of Weber Distribution to Weber Distribution offers many benefits to companies that need to store and distribute temperature controlled products. These benefits include:

• Financial. The ability to reduce or entirely eliminate capital investment.
• Professional. Trained professionals who specialize in providing maximum protection for customer products
• Technology. The ability to provide critical transaction data and analysis. Information about inventory management, shipment histories, production scheduling, and stock replenishment can be routinely shared.
• Distribution. Our facilities are strategically located to connect with all transport modes, and shippers can also take advantage of reduced transportation costs available through consolidated shipments. Food manufacturers, especially, can bypass the need to acquire or construct refrigerated facilities in one or several permanent locations.
• Core competency. Companies can focus on their core competencies and let Weber Distribution design facilities, control warehousing and logistics costs, provide sanitation, monitor product temperatures, and provide related value-added services.

Temperature Controlled Storage
As an asset based provider, Weber Distribution operates an extensive regional network of over 1,000,000 square feet of temperature controlled warehousing space across the entire West Coast.

(Click To Enlarge) Weber Distribution's geographically desirable temperature controlled facilities provide instant access to the critical West Coast consumer market estimated at well over forty million consumers. As The West Coast Logistics Leader®, Weber has distribution facilities and transportation terminals strategically located in close proximity to all major West Coast transportation and hub points, including the major sea ports and direct rail access: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, and San Diego, in addition to facilities within greater Las Vegas, Phoenix, and the Pacific Northwest. This allows our customers flexibility and scalability, along with the ability to be close to the customer and react quickly to order replenishment requests.

To ensure product integrity, Weber maintains our warehouses between 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and can offer storage space down to 40 degrees based on customer needs. Humidity is also a critical factor given the sensitivity of our customer's products, reinforcing the need to quickly and efficiently unload containers. Readings of temperature and humidity are taken and recorded on a continual basis.

Temperature Controlled Transportation
Carrier capacity is an ever-growing problem for all shippers, but temperature controlled food manufacturers are further challenged by seasonal demands, fluctuating volume, and special storage and handling requirements. Drayage and truck capacity for refrigerated cargo is scarce around ports, and finding refrigerated carriers for LTL moves can be especially challenging. As an asset-based, regional provider, Weber Distribution's regional LTL network affords temperature controlled manufacturers considerable flexibility with locating truck capacity.

Weber Distribution operates nearly 150 company-owned refrigerated trailers. This allows us the ability to meet the seasonal demand fluctuations and special temperature requirements of the industry. Weber has a large network of customers in the food sector with similar product and shipment requirements, we can sometimes mix and match loads and consolidate freight to reduce transport costs and provide economies of scale. Additionally, climate conditions are carefully monitored during transport. This ensures that ideal temperature and humidity levels are maintained during transport.

Warehouse and Transportation Integration
Time lost in transshipment translates into a shortened selling window, dead inventory, and ultimately, unsatisfied consumers. Integrating the warehouse and transportation services of Weber Distribution ensures that product moves continuously within the supply chain. Additionally, accuracy and compliance requirements for perishables are among the tightest in the industry and Weber Distribution operates a proven and well established in-house vendor compliance program.

Critical & Real-Time Report Information
Weber Distribution's robust Warehouse Management System, known as LINKS™, combined with our proprietary Transportation Management System, TransLinks™, ties our transportation and distribution activities together. This solution centralizes information on an interactive web site that enables users to search, drill down, and view data about orders, inventory, and transportation status. Customers have the ability to access key real-time report information via our web site that enables them to ensure that product remains fresh. Sample reports and information include:

• Critical Product Inventory
• Shelf Life Report
• Inventory Aging by Month
• On-Hand Inventory with Due In
• Pending Outbound Orders
• Shipped Outbound Orders

Weber Distribution Competitive Advantages

• Privately-held and asset-based, with over 4,500,000 square feet on the West Coast and an in-house fleet of refrigerated and dry freight vans and trailers
• Direct rail access ("BNSF Premier Transload Network Provider")
• Service some of the top names in the industry including: Welch's, General Mills, and The Hershey Company
• Recommended 3rd party logistics provider by a number of major grocery and retail chains including Wal-Mart, Safeway, and Costco

Professional Affiliations

• Council of Supply Chain Management Providers (CSCMP)
• Food Shippers of America (FSA)
• Food Shippers Association of North America (FSNA)
• Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)
• National Confectioners Association (NCA)
• International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW)
• Int'l Warehouse & Logistics Association (IWLA)
• National Confectioners' Logistics Council (NCLC)

Supported by Accurate & Real-Time Information

We know that accurate information about your products is critical to your supply chain. As your logistics partner, we utilize a proven approach to convert, process, store, access, transmit, and manage electronic data based information. Our flexible and automated Warehouse Management System, known as LINKS™, allows for lot and batch control receiving and provides pipeline visibility and real time reporting information via the Internet