Fleet Management vs. Mother Nature: How New Sagaya Overcame The Odds

A rapidly expanding grocery store and wholesaler struggles to make deliveries in a very challenging geography.

CHALLENGE: A rapidly expanding grocery store and wholesaler struggles to make deliveries in a very challenging geography.

New Sagaya had a unique problem. Based in Alaska, the grocery store delivers Alaskan Seafood, Asian groceries, gourmet foods, fresh Asian and conventional produce, Harris Ranch USDA choice meats, and flavorful Chinese & European prepared foods to restaurants around the state. But the Yukon is a region where both the weather and the roads pose major challenges, and the company’s aging trucks were beginning to break down. After experiencing a period of rapid growth in 2010, it became clear that their fleet was no longer reliable enough to sustain their business. Frequent repair and maintenance issues meant that, at times, half of their trucks were unusable, creating major problems in the delivery schedule. Add to that the fact that the majority of New Sagaya’s deliveries included time-sensitive products, such as fresh seafood to sushi restaurants, downtime posed an even bigger headache, along with a potential loss in sales.