Averitt Express is launching a new business unit designed to target retailers in need of distribution services. Through the new unit, Averitt Retail Distribution Services, the company is providing flow-through, along with customized delivery services catering to the unique requirements of retailers.

Averitt is initially targeting retailers needing delivery in large Southern markets, such as Atlanta, Ga., Charlotte, N.C., Miami and Lakeland, Fla., and Houston and Dallas, Texas. Plans are already underway to eventually expand into other areas.

In the Southern markets, Averitt is establishing “retail distribution sites” equipped with the state-of-the-art conveyor systems and scanning technology necessary for providing world-class distribution services. These facilities are exclusively devoted to retail distribution, and are separate from the traditional LTL cross-dock service centers Averitt already operates in these markets.

Officials say venturing further into the retail supply chain is a natural progression for Averitt.

“Averitt’s been providing transportation for retailers for more than 40 years now. However, over the past few years, we have begun to make a name for ourselves in the retail arena as we’ve demonstrated our ability to provide the customized service and information required by the world’s largest retailers and their vendors,” said Phil Pierce, Averitt’s executive vice president of sales and marketing.

“Even as we have become a leader in retail transportation, we have always known there are several segments of the retail supply chain that have fallen outside of our traditional core competency. There are certain services retailers need that we simply have chosen not to pursue because they would require a different model than what we have in our existing LTL, truckload and supply chain operations,” added Pierce.

“That’s why we have spent the last several months designing an entirely new unit that allows us to blend our retail knowledge with our distribution expertise and concentrate on this segment of retail distribution.”

Averitt’s new model is specifically targeted to retailers who do not operate their own regional distribution centers and are looking to improve any of the following elements of their supply chain:

• --Speed-to-shelf
• --Product availability
• --Inventory turns/store replenishment
• --Shipment integrity
• --Vendor-to-store management
• --Order-to-cash cycle
• --Chargeback reduction/MABD compliance