Case Study
Setting Up for Scale: Structuring wholesale operations in Brazil
Supported a global consumer company in structuring its wholesale operation in Brazil, identifying a $5M (36%) reduction in annual logistics costs.
Industry: Food & Beverage
Client
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Global leader in the premium chocolate segment, with over 175 years of heritage and a presence in more than 120 countries.
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In Brazil, the company has operated its own stores for the past decade, expanding to over 80 locations across major cities and regions.
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Challenges
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The Brazilian operation needed to establish a robust wholesale operation to sustain its ambition to be one of its the fastest-growing markets.
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Issues included the lack of structured processes, fragmented demand planning, and the need for greater visibility and alignment across sales, operations, and supply chain.
Our Approach
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Defined and structured the wholesale go-to-market strategy, including process mapping, competitive bidding (BID), and implementation with stabilization follow-up.
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Led the S&OP Cycle considering critical factors such as: stock replenishment needs, risk of under/over coverage by sku, copacking, warehouse utilization and forecasted demand.
Results
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Conducted study with 7 logistics network scenarios, identifying a configuration that resulted in a USD 5 MM/year reduction (36%) in total logistics costs.
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Established a clear and scalable structure for wholesale operations aligned with Lindt’s premium brand positioning.
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Improved forecast accuracy and reduced stockouts through integrated S&OP practices. Enhanced supply chain planning capabilities, enabling proactive inventory management and better promotional readiness.