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Since 1950, Shapiro Produce has been a trusted distributor of high-quality produce and grocery items across five states, servicing over 250 retailers. Known for their expansive product line including fruits, vegetables, juices, salad dressings, nuts, and more, Shapiro Produce has built a reputation for reliability and quality in the grocery industry. Despite their success, it’s not an easy business - with most of their retailers, Shapiro needs to deal with persistent challenges such as fluctuating supplier pricing and managing underperforming products. One of their retailers, however, uses Local Line, which was a game-changer for the way Shapiro interacts with and services the 20-store Massachusetts-based grocery chain.
Roche Bros was looking for a way to streamline their in-store ordering with their dozens of local suppliers and as part of that implementation, Shapiro was onboarded to Local Line. They started by adding over 60 products and within the first couple of weeks, were immediately surprised by the seamless efficiency the platform was able to introduce. Communicating inventory and pricing changes took less than half the time, and their team was spending more time proactively improving their relationship with Roche Bros instead of tracking individual orders and managing paperwork.
Part of Shapiro’s service for their retailers is visiting each store and logging in-store orders to restock inventory at the exact right moment. "Logging orders myself through Local Line has been extremely easy," said Kyle Lynch, Sales Associate at Shapiro Produce, who manages in-store orders. "Even though I was already familiar with every product, the platform made the process much more efficient. The Local Line team has also been incredibly helpful, always responding quickly whenever I needed assistance."
One of the standout advantages of Local Line has been the improvement in communication between Shapiro Produce and individual grocery store managers. The platform’s features such as order notes and expected delivery dates have streamlined coordination between their office and grocery store teams.
Additionally, Local Line has made it easier for Shapiro to introduce new products to the Roche stores. The ability to inform grocery managers about product transitions to Local Line has ensured a smooth ordering process and consistent inventory availability. In fact, Shapiro Produce has been able to introduce 10 new vendors through Local Line, further strengthening their network of local suppliers.
Being physically present in stores has allowed Kyle to establish strong relationships with store managers. The trust built over time means managers rely on him to place necessary orders efficiently. Local Line has reinforced this trust by allowing for flexible order management, ensuring timely stock replenishment and product promotion.
The platform has also played a key role in improving order accuracy. "If there are any incorrect quantities, missing items, or mispicks, stores can call in a credit, and we process it accordingly.”
The Local Line platform enables Kyle to quickly address any order discrepancies, ensuring that missing items or incorrect quantities are resolved efficiently while maintaining smooth operations.
By integrating Local Line into their sales process, Shapiro Produce has noticed an uptick in sales, particularly when Roche Bros. runs promotional ads. With orders flowing in more consistently, they have been able to manage inventory better and provide stores with timely updates on stock availability and promotions.
"When we run promotions through Roche Bros., sales typically increase by 15-20%, which has been a great boost for our business," Kyle noted.
Beyond order management, Local Line has helped Shapiro Produce strengthen connections within the local grocery network. "The platform has allowed us to create new partnerships, foster trust with stores, and ultimately build stronger business relationships," Kyle emphasized.
Using Local Line has also resulted in significant time savings. "It saves me anywhere from 1-3 hours a day since I can quickly enter orders, while someone in my office processes them through our system, streamlining the workflow," Kyle explained.
For Shapiro Produce, Local Line isn’t just a tool for logging orders—it’s a solution that enhances efficiency, strengthens relationships, and drives business growth. By leveraging the platform’s capabilities and the support of the Local Line team, they continue to thrive as a leading supplier, ensuring grocery stores remain well-stocked with high-quality products while keeping operations smooth and efficient.
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