Emphasis on an integrated logistics network continues to drive watermelon category sales for C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., headquartered in Eden Prairie, MN. Category Manager Josh Knox spoke with The Produce News to talk about the importance of a superior transportation network, and the ways in which the company responds to customer requirements.

“C.H. Robinson considers melons to be one of the company’s strategic products in that C.H. Robinson is significantly invested in everything from seed development and the growing process to supply chain technology,” he stated. “Melons are a nomadic crop with a fragmented supply chain, meaning the product’s growing locations are constantly changing with the seasons, which can make the product difficult to manage from a supply chain perspective.”

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. works with a network of over 63,000 transportation providers. (Photo courtesy of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.) According to Knox, the company’s transportation expertise can be found in each detailed link of the supply chain, and tailored services “add exponential value to the watermelon category through ways. C.H. Robinson operates six strategically placed service centers in the U.S. that are designed to help retail, foodservice, wholesale, food manufacturing and grower-shipper-producer customers bring their fresh product to market more efficiently.”

He noted that watermelons are an extremely price sensitive commodity. C.H. Robinson’s Direct-Store-Delivery program enables retailers to bypass the cost of warehouse storage, thereby passing savings along to their customers without sacrificing product integrity or quality. “The Direct-Store-Delivery program is flexible, offering daily short orders, a full produce outsource or one time promotional deliveries,” Knox explained. “In addition, during the summer holiday seasons, watermelon and other summer items are heavily promoted at retail level. C.H. Robinson’s DSD service offering limits the number of delivery appointments and warehouse storage capacity issues so retailers can immediately receive, merchandise and promote large amounts of quality watermelon in this heavy demand period.”

The attention to customer needs does not stop there. C.H. Robinson helps retailers maximize customer sales through use of an in-house analytics team. “This allows C.H. Robinson to determine fixtures or suggest new ideas for merchandising product as well as recommend fruit sizing or packaging options,” Knox commented. “Not only do these data help retail customers with their costs savings, but it also maximizes growers’ returns. In addition, hours-of-service and other regulation changes in the transportation industry have taken a toll on the time sensitive nature of perishable product all together. C.H. Robinson utilizes over a century of fresh produce transportation experience and a network of over 63,000 transportation providers worldwide in order to ensure that product procurement demands are not only met but exceeded.”