RaceTrac transforms supply chain to support growth

A regional convenience/fuel store operator is digitally enabling its warehousing operations and transportation modeling capabilities.

Atlanta-based RaceTrac, operator of the RaceTrac and RaceWay convenience/fuel banners, is implementing Blue Yonder warehouse management, transportation modling and labor management solutions to support future company expansion.

The retailer’s geographic footprint is concentrated across 13 Southeastern states, but it is planning aggressive growth and expansion for new markets, with a focus on its largest travel center format. 

RaceTrac’s current execution-focused supply chain solutions were not able to meet these future growth plans, so the company is implementing technology from Blue Yonder, its current supply chain solutions provider for category management. Blue 
Yonder partner Open Sky Group will manage the project.

As a result, RaceTrac seeks to be able to:

• Support store growth and geographic expansion initiatives.
• Automate supply chain execution processes, synchronize warehouse execution, and optimize labor retention.
• Quickly onboard and seamlessly embed advancements in automation to further streamline operations.
• Provide early visibility to demand and corresponding labor requirements to realize a more balanced and consistent operational experience, as well as improve labor standards and incentive pay.
• Enhance the balance between carriers and private fleet, determine the appropriate size and deployment of private fleet, optimize fleet routing, and enable continuous optimization while extending its transportation network.

"We needed a solution that would allow us to not only improve our basic system functionality but allow us to meet the needs of our growing business," said Daniel Vasseur, executive director, merchandise supply chain, RaceTrac. "After evaluating several vendors, we knew Blue Yonder was the right supply chain solutions provider as they could truly provide the end-to-end capabilities that we needed to digitally transform our operations and allow us to grow as our business and customer needs changed. Having worked with them for more than 20 years in the category management space, we are looking forward to implementing these – and future – solutions with them."

"We are excited to assist RaceTrac with their Blue Yonder Warehouse and Labor Management solutions implementation in four warehouses across the southern U.S.," said Eric McPherson, VP, Client Services, Open Sky Group. "These solutions are going to increase their warehouse efficiency and give them a competitive advantage in a challenging supply chain landscape."

"Having been a trusted supply chain solutions provider to RaceTrac for more than 20 years, we are excited that they selected us to lead their digital transformation journey. We are excited to be on this journey with them now and into the future," said Vince Beacom, senior VP, retail, Blue Yonder.

RaceTrac modernizes store operations

RaceTrac has also actively been working to transform front-end workflows. The retailer is using HPE compute and storage technology to streamline customer-facing workloads including self-pumping gas stations, credit card and payment processing, and a customer loyalty platform. 

RaceTrac also seeks to utilize HPE technology to improve overall store management programs such as camera surveillance, employee digital timecards to clock-in and clock-out, daily accounting summaries, staff scheduling and inventory order placements.

In addition, the company has deployed autonomous floor scrubbers from ICE Cobotics to streamline repetitive cleaning tasks and free store associates to serve better customers

Headquartered in Atlanta, family-owned RaceTrac has nearly 800 retail locations under the RaceTrac and RaceWay brands in 13 states offering fuel and a selection of food and beverage items. RaceTrac employs more than 10,500 associates across RaceTrac, RaceWay and affiliated companies Metroplex Energy and Energy Dispatch.