Snacks Direct

Reducing Planning Time and Increasing Sales

Snacksdirect is the largest direct to door van sales operation of its kind in the UK, providing a nationwide service to independent retailers for crisps and sweet and savoury snacks across a wide variety of market leading brands including KP McVities and Golden Wonder.

P&H Snacksdirect is a subsidiary of Palmer & Harvey McLane Ltd, the UK’s leading retail distributor.

The Challenge

Operating hundreds of vans from more than 50 UK depots could prove a daunting task for the less seasoned van sales distributor. It is not only the size of the operation but the need to accommodate the massive growth enjoyed over recent years which itself introduces new challenges, including new sales people and a growing customer base.

The Solution

Using CACI’s territory planning tool - InSite FieldForce to ensure that van sales territories are balanced equally, Snacksdirect keep a firm grip on van scheduling and maintain efficiency by using our call scheduling software, CallSmart. CallSmart enables them to manage change in van sales territories and customers quickly and easily by automating the scheduling process. This unique software not only reduces time spent planning by up to 75% but also ensures that each van sales person is provided with the most efficient, drive-time minimised call sequence for each working day.

Retailer availability is taken into account ensuring visits are planned at the most convenient time and a high level of customer service is maintained ensuring customers expectations are consistently met.

The results and benefits

P&H Snacksdirect has worked with CACI since 2000. The effective use of the InSite FieldForce and CallSmart solution has helped fuel their growth of the van sales team by over 50%! The solution has enabled them to plan their territories and calls more efficiently, freeing time up for canvassing and prospecting activities. Reports have shown that since the introduction of the CallSmart solution, a saving of 84 whole days was saved in just one single twenty-day call cycle alone.

This equates to around 840 days per year across the team that can be used for prospecting, allowing P&H Snacksdirect to generate new business. This is in addition to time saved by the solution on a daily basis as a result of efficient planning. As the team grows and becomes more efficient, further days can be freed up to focus on new business.

P&H Snacksdirect attribute a lot of their recent growth down to CACI’s Field Force Planning solution as well as their successful van sales team members.

"…although I am extremely busy, without CallSmart we would require another three staff members employed directly on the scheduling task. CallSmart has reduced planning time hugely and ensures optimum van coverage and efficiency."

- David Perrin, Route Planning Manager, P&H Snacksdirect

	Field Force Planning
	InSite FieldForce
	CallSmart