Opportunity
Athletic Greens (AG) is a high-volume subscription eCommerce nutritional supplement brand that has experienced tremendous growth. Their current third-party logistics providers (3PLs) have had difficulty managing the high order volume and have required frequent assistance to address operational issues. AG is seeking new top-tier 3PL partners in the US and European markets who can not only handle their current volume but also scale with their projected growth.
Challenge
Executing an RFQ at this scale requires a significant time investment, and many brands do not have the in-house resources necessary to find a 3PL. AG needed to find a new fulfillment partner during one of the tightest 3PL markets in recent memory. It would be difficult to find a 3PL with available space and capacity for additional significant order volume. Key requirements, including high-volume subscription boxes, FDA-registered facilities, and complex software integrations, would also limit the list of qualified 3PL candidates.
Solution
After reviewing AG's order fulfillment needs, projected order volumes, operational challenges and shipping profile, we decided it was time to replace their current third-party logistics providers (3PLs) in the US and Europe. We created a list of Bluprint Certified 3PLs and also evaluated new candidates. Subsequently, we narrowed the list to our top candidates, negotiated pricing and terms, and decided upon the ideal new 3PL partners in the US and Europe.
Results
Once agreements were signed, we developed a detailed transition plan and timeline for each market to ensure no order processing downtime. We successfully launched on time and on budget with new 3PL partners in the US and Europe. In the US, our expertise led to almost 15% savings on fulfillment costs. In Europe, we reduced AG's fulfillment costs by nearly 60%.
About Us
We're former operators with deep experience in logistics, order fulfillment, warehousing, supply chain and inventory control. We’ve helped multiple high-growth product companies locate capable fulfillment partners, optimize warehouse efficiency, upgrade operations technologies and improve overall operating performance and profit margins.