ARCOP, Inc. Extends E-Sourcing Partnership With Intesource Following Successful First Year

PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - Apr 18, 2013) - After securing significant savings in both direct and indirect spend in 2012, ARCOP, Inc., the supply chain cooperative of Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc., has extended its sourcing partnership with Intesource, the go-to e-sourcing provider in the restaurant, retail, and grocery industries, for an additional two years.

In 2012, ARCOP partnered with Intesource to identify and secure new savings and efficiencies throughout its supply chain, and control costs in the face of rising food price and stagnant industry growth. By leveraging Intesource's e-sourcing technology and service team, ARCOP was able to drive double-digit savings for several categories.

"By integrating e-sourcing as part of our ongoing procurement strategy, we've taken our sourcing process to the next level," said Les Karel, SVP of indirect sourcing and distribution at ARCOP. "With Intesource, we've been able to unlock new opportunities for savings and expand the value of the supply chain across the entire organization."

ARCOP's renewal was driven by Intesource's industry-leading responsiveness and service levels, and its flexible, comprehensive sourcing platform. Intesource enables ARCOP's lean procurement team to dramatically increase the number of sourcing projects it runs -- while decreasing the average time for each event. Additionally, Intesource provides a centralized and accessible hub for ARCOP's procurement data, giving the organization a valuable resource for future sourcing events.

"Our corporate and franchise members rely on us to continually deliver new savings and efficiencies," said Keith Anderkin, SVP of procurement and supply management at ARCOP. "With the help of Intesource's experienced professional services team, we can ensure we're providing the best possible value."

"With food costs rising and consumers less willing to tolerate higher prices, the pressure is on restaurant procurement teams to control costs," said Len Kaplan, VP of Sales at Intesource. "Restaurants need to look beyond food prices to identify other areas for savings. Our customers are always shocked by how much they can save on categories like advertising, maintenance, and equipment to name a few."

Intesource will present an e-sourcing panel at the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, AZ, titled 'e-Sourcing: Is It Right For You?' The panel will also feature Intesource customers Wegmans Food Market and P.F. Chang's, and moderator Rick Van Warner, President of The Parquet Group.

The panel will take place on at 7:45 am on Wednesday, April 24 in the Rainmakers C room.

To find out more about how Intesource can enhance the value your procurement team drives, and save your restaurant an average of 18%, download our new Market Brief: 3 Steps To Turn Up The Heat In Procurement.

About Intesource

Companies are caught between two opposing goals: drive cost savings or invest in innovation. Both require people, technology, and expertise in a time when resources -- and the skills and time required to source effectively -- are scarce.

Intesource eliminates operational headaches from the sourcing equation by offering the industry's only enterprise wide, unlimited, full-service e-Sourcing package. Intesource's turnkey approach to e-Sourcing consistently drives double-digit savings without requiring additional staff or process overhauls -- an approach that saves valuable time and frees up staff to focus on strategic initiatives.

With a history of success in the most challenging sourcing climates, and expertise in both direct and indirect categories, Intesource ensures that buyers are getting the best value every single time. Learn more at www.Intesource.com.

About ARCOP

ARCOP, formed in 1978, serves as Arby's national non-profit food service supply chain organization. ARCOP's two primary missions are to manage costs through consolidated purchasing efficiencies and to ensure continuity of supply through strategic supply chain management. ARCOP contracts for products and packaging including frozen foods, dry groceries, branded paper products, beverages, operating supplies, distribution, capital assets, energy, and services. Savings achieved through ARCOP services are passed along to franchisee and company stores through lower product costs.