SYSCO

SYSCO, the world’s largest foodservice provider, has a vast global presence, due to acquiring leading foodservice companies in multiple regions.

In Ireland, they acquired Pallas Foods in 2016. In the UK, they purchased Breaks, the largest foodservice company, around the same time.

With acquisitions spanning across Sweden, France and other countries, SYSCO faced a pressing need to modernise and consolidate their operations to create a cohesive standard operating model for all their international sites.

In 2019, SYSCO reached a critical point. They needed to upgrade their technology infrastructure from Windows mobile to Android across their UK sites. However, this project was more than a simple technology upgrade. SYSCO sought a partner capable of guiding them in developing a future-proof, standardised operating model for their international warehousing and logistics functions.

This transition required the successful partner to work with the international sysco business and smooth the pathway to SYSCO’s Warehouse Management System (SWMS) and Transport Management System (STMS) across all sites internationally.

The challenge was twofold for SYSCO: modernising the technology while simultaneously finding a partner who could challenge their assumptions, offer innovative solutions and deliver an efficient and scalable international operating model.

Timewise entered the tendering process without any prior relationship with SYSCO. Our team focused on providing a long-term solution aligned with SYSCO’s broader three- to ten-year goals. Instead of simply addressing the immediate tender requirements, Timewise proposed innovative ideas to improve SYSCO’s systems and processes.

The pandemic delayed the tender process, extending it from late 2019 to August 2020. However, this delay provided an opportunity for Timewise to build trust with SYSCO’s project team and further demonstrate their expertise.

In August 2020, SYSCO selected Timewise as the preferred vendor, despite the fact that this was not the lowest-cost option. The Timewise approach, which emphasised long-term benefits, led to the seamless transition of 16 UK sites. Timewise also completed projects in Ireland and began expanding into SYSCO’s international operations in Sweden and France.

Timewise have demonstrated their ability to manage projects internationally, offering scalable solutions across territory and working hand-in-glove with Sysco’s WMT (Wearable Mobile Technology Team) in Texas and with Sysco’s International Technology Portfolio Director and European VMO Lead.

The Timewise SYSCO partnership has continued to grow. Large-scale projects have been successfully completed in France and Sweden, with more than 20 French sites slated for transition into SYSCO’s global standardised model over the next three years.

Feb 2025 will see the 3rd Swedish site deployed with 5 more planned from 2025 through 2026.

SYSCO’s warehouse modernisation journey highlights the value of selecting a partner that delivers beyond expectations. By focusing on innovation and long-term solutions, Timewise has played a key role in SYSCO’s successful international expansion, ensuring their systems are future-proof and scalable across multiple regions.