Orlando, FL – (June 22, 2015) – Ainsworth Pet Nutrition® – America’s oldest family-owned pet food company – has joined the roster of companies that have switched from wood pallets to plastic pallet solutions, selecting iGPS Logistics as its new national shipping platform. The selection of iGPS plastic pallets followed an extensive 14-month testing process involving examination of five different shipping platforms in real life scenarios. Ainsworth Pet Nutrition conducted the tests with several of its own products at various weights and with a number of packaging materials. The evaluation included palletizing, shrink wrapping, stacking and slip sheet removal, transportation and general forklift handling.
“There were big advantages to making this conversion from wood pallet systems to iGPS plastic pallets,” said Tim Crum, Continuous Improvement Manager for Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. “These pallets are a higher level quality and will bring some significant cost savings to us through human and food safety initiatives and reduction to damaged products.” “For example, the lighter weight of the 48×40 iGPS plastic pallet will allow more product weight on a truck versus pallet weight,” added Crum. “Also, by eliminating the need for bottom chipboard sheets, and our freight advantage, we will realize significant hard savings direct to our bottom line.”
“We are extremely pleased to partner with a company as prominent and as quality focused as Ainsworth Pet Nutrition,” said Jeffrey Liebesman, CEO of iGPS Logistics. “Our plastic pallets are the perfect solution for pet food companies such as Ainsworth – in addition to providing potential cost savings in product transportation, this platform ensures a safer and more environmentally-friendly means of delivering products to customers.”
Based in Meadville, PA, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition has long prided itself on using only the highest quality, simple, natural ingredients in all of their healthy pet foods and treats. By electing to ship their products using iGPS Logistics plastic pallets, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition will enhance the safety of these products and bolster its standing as the first pet food manufacturing company in the U.S. to receive a Facilities Food Safety audit rating of “Excellent” from the Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Level II International auditing standard in accordance with the Global Food Safety Initiative.
About Ainsworth Pet Nutrition About Ainsworth Pet Nutrition Ainsworth Pet Nutrition is a fifth generation, primarily family-owned and operated company named after one of the company founders, George Ainsworth Lang. The company is focused entirely on pets, and has a stated goal of changing the way consumers shop for Super Premium pet food. Indeed, Ainsworth’s mantra is “Pet Store Quality. Supermarket Easy.” The company makes multiple brands and types of dog and cat food, including the Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® line of dog and cat foods and certain Super Premium retailer specific brands. Ainsworth Pet Nutrition is committed to food safety, and manufactures all of its dry pet food in the United States using high quality ingredients that can be traced throughout the entire supply chain. To learn more, visit www.ainsworthpets.com
About IGPS Logistics iGPS Logistics is North America’s only pooler of 48×40 plastic pallets. iGPS pallets will generate measurable savings in transport, reduced product damage, and other operational efficiencies. All Gen 1 pallets received the NSF Certification for pallets manufactured between March 2010 and January 2013, iGPS’ platform is a major advance in supply chain hygiene—a platform that can easily be cleaned. It will not absorb fluids that can lead to contamination and never requires treatment with toxic pesticides or fungicides. Measuring a true 48” x 40”, iGPS’ platform enables larger load patterns and is ideally suited for automated environments. And, it puts an end to broken boards and protruding nails that can damage equipment, endanger workers, jam production lines and litter workplaces. An independent life cycle analysis has documented that iGPS’ solution is better for the environment than both one-way and multiuse wood pallets. For more information please contact us at 1-800-884-0225 or visit www.igps.net.
