For further information, please contact:

Joe Ciolino
AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources Corp.
(856) 773-0600
jciolino@ameriquestcorp.com

Stu Zlotnikoff or Julie Ecker
National Grocers Association
(703) 516-0700

Szlotnikoff@NationalGrocers.org

Bob Gatty
Food Distributors International
(703) 532-9400
robertg@fdi.org

N.G.A., FDI Combine in
New Transportation Procurement Service
Operated By Ameriquest

Cherry Hill, N.J. -- August 1, 2001 -- Food Distributors International (FDI) and National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) announced today that they are partnering with AmeriQuest, the transportation and logistics company based here, to launch a powerful new buying service that will save member companies that operate truck fleets millions of dollars in lower prices and new efficiencies. The new service, www.foodfleetxchange.com, opened for business today.

FoodFleetXchange allows grocery retailers and wholesalers and their suppliers to buy all major brands of tires, lubricants, batteries, brakes, engines, transmissions, tools, truck bodies, shop tools, lift trucks and more at improved pricing levels. This is accomplished through the added volume represented by the fleets of the two associations in combination with existing AmeriQuest users.

"This is a major development for the food industry and our members," said FDI president John R. Block. "Fleet operations is one of the largest costs for wholesalers and foodservice distributors, and by aggregating the buying power of our two associations – combined with the 81,000 power units served by AmeriQuest – FoodFleetXchange can provide national pricing that will mean significant savings to even our largest members."

"Members and affiliates of N.G.A. participating in the AmeriQuest service will have access to similar pricing and purchasing economies of scale previously available only to the nation’s largest retailers and manufacturers," said Thomas K. Zaucha, president and CEO, N.G.A. "The service will help level the playing field for the fleets of N.G.A. members and other participating suppliers."

An important consideration for fleet managers is that their vendor relationships will not be affected by using the FoodFleetXchange buying service, since orders, deliveries and installation will still be made through them.

"The only thing that changes," said Joe Ciolino, executive vice president of AmeriQuest, "is the price. It gets better. And, your vendor gets paid faster. Your local vendor is informed of your participation in FoodFleetXchange and you’ll receive our national pricing."

"This will allow our member companies to cut their transportation costs dramatically at a time when energy and other pressures are causing them to rise," said Stu Zlotnikoff, senior vice president, N.G.A. and president, N.G.A. Service Corporation (NGASC), which developed the new transportation purchasing portal with AmeriQuest and FDI.

The NGASC’s mission is to help develop and market national, cost-effective, turnkey operational services designed to increase efficiency, control costs and build sales and market share for the N.G.A. constituency.

"Our job is to help our member companies be as operationally efficient as possible," said Zlotnikoff. "The alliance of N.G.A., FDI and AmeriQuest will do just that in transportation, by providing everyday low prices, reliable service, product expertise, and a world-class e-commerce buying system."

According to FDI’s 2000 Wholesale/Retail Transportation and Fleet Maintenance Report, the biggest challenge for fleet manages is controlling expenses. Breakdowns are costly and out-of-service trucks strain the system.  For that reason, fleet managers seek vendors that provide a balance of good prices and good service.  The report shows that some distributors even rely on the local tire supplier to maintain cost records for the fleet.

Still, the bottom-line impact of lower prices is crucial, especially when it comes to parts and tires, the top two maintenance expenses.  According to the report, parts account for 56 percent of total repair costs and tires for 21 percent.

How It Works
Here’s how FoodFleetXchange works:

AmeriQuest arranges preferred pricing and fulfillment with a host of national suppliers. Any of the vendor/dealers who use these suppliers become part of the FoodFleetXchange network. When an N.G.A. or FDI member signs up with FoodFleetXchange, AmeriQuest notifies the supplier and the member's facilities automatically have access to the national pricing program.

Prices are lower because of AmeriQuest's aggregated purchasing power. For most fleet managers, it means business as usual in terms of ordering from the same local vendor, but the prices are better. Once the order is placed, the process becomes paperless for the participating company. Invoicing is done on-line through FoodFleetXchange. Companies using multiple vendors who are part of FoodFleetXchange receive one invoice.  Participants have access to their records anywhere at any time. They can examine their order history to detect trends or patterns and plan for the future.

"Our biggest challenge is making fleet managers aware that nothing will change," Ciolino said. "The only difference is that they have access to the national pricing matrix. It is very user friendly. They can still call up their local vendor and order what they need. Eventually, fleet managers will be able to order from the computer screen, if that's what they want to do. But each fleet manager works things out with their vendors as far as how they order."

"This is an evolution, not revolution," said Doug Clark, president & CEO of AmeriQuest. "As with all new initiatives we're not going to force it."

Early Success
Roundy's, a wholesaler based in Pewaukee, Wis., used the program as a pilot to purchase tires for its Eldorado, IL, distribution center and is looking toward expanding its use.

"Once you get the vendors set up, it requires nothing more than a phone call or a purchase order," said Scott Aud, fleet manager of the Eldorado facility.  "You tell them what you need and they bring it. The system is user friendly.  It saves time, and time is valuable. "Aud said vendors like the system because it turns money quicker and requires less paperwork. "It streamlines the process and helps both partners," he said. Ciolino said in most cases, vendors are paid within 48 hours instead of the usual 30 days.

"At Roundy's we consider e-commerce to be a tool for us," Weber said. "We're pleased to be involved as an initial user.  It takes time to move towards online purchasing because it's a philosophical change for the fleet manager.  Now we are trying to move one step further and get all seven divisions involved."   Once all divisions are using FoodFleetXchange, Weber will be able to go online and review purchasing activity.  

"We do not have to try to create national pricing for Roundy's," Weber said. "AmeriQuest already has that in place.  Because we have multiple sites and can see the same information on the screen, we can plan strategies by having all managers looking at the same information concurrently."

FoodFleetXchange is a huge source for tire purchases. It offers most major brands, including Goodyear, Continental General and Yokohama, among others. There is a recapped tire program with Bandag and lubricants from Citgo. At the same time, AmeriQuest has developed what amounts to an entire parts catalog for FoodFleetXchange members.

"Our goal is to be able to offer the FoodFleetXchange members not just the lowest acquisition costs, but A through Z in products that touch maintenance facilities," Clark said.

Other features will be available, too, such as an on-line freight matching service that lists both shippers and carriers.  This service will help companies take advantage of backhaul opportunities by allowing them to post available shipments or capacity availability, logistics design (routing and scheduling), and surplus asset disposition.

The Information Exchange
FoodFleetXchange also includes an information exchange through which fleet managers can tap into the accumulated knowledge and experience of their counterparts. It's a forum for fleet professionals, and it's free.

"It's definitely taking off," reported Ciolino. "More and more people are participating. New questions are being posted every day."

Traffic on the information site has increased to some 5,000 visitors per month. By adding the broader audience through N.G.A., those numbers are expected to increase. One unique service involves a new database of ratings on different products in different areas. With tires, for example, every original equipment manufacturer has been rated by participating members.

Roundy's has found the information exchange to be an excellent resource.

"We already have our managers talking directly to each other on common problems," Weber reported. "I believe that will mushroom nationally among FoodFleetXchange users.  It will close the loop faster on some issues and allows a manager to avoid making costly mistakes.  The value in that on the fleet side is that it will cut the cycle time on finding solutions.  People are very willing to discuss common problems and work towards a solution. FoodFleetXchange has given fleets of all sizes a voice."

Additional information on FoodFleetXchange can be found at www.NationalGrocers.org and www.fdi.org.

About Food Distributors International

Food Distributors International is a trade association comprised of food distribution companies that supply and service independent grocers and foodservice operations throughout the United States, Canada and 19 other countries. The association and its foodservice partner, the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), have 227 member companies that operate 1244 distribution centers with a combined annual sales volume of $170 billion. IFDA represents member firms that annually sell $48 billion in food and related products to restaurants, hospitals and other institutional foodservice operations. More information on Food Distributors International is available at www.fdi.org.

About National Grocers Association
N.G.A. is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating in a variety of formats. Some are publicly traded but with controlling shares held by the family. Most independent operators are serviced by wholesale distributors, while others may be partially or fully self-distributing. Independents are the true "entrepreneurs" of the grocery industry and dedicated to their customers, associates, and communities. N.G.A. members include retail and wholesale grocers and their state associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about N.G.A. and the independent sector of the industry, see the N.G.A. website: www.NationalGrocers.org.

About AmeriQuest
AmeriQuest^® Transportation and Logistics Resources is a privately held, national leader in transportation and logistics services for the fleet management industry. Operating from more than 450 locations and representing the direct purchasing power of about 230,000 trucks and 100 aggregated fleets, AmeriQuest arranges preferred pricing and fulfillment with leading suppliers, delivering substantial savings to the industry. AmeriQuest is also the exclusive provider of procurement and transportation related services for its strategic partners, such as Amtralease (American Truck Leasing Network, Inc.) and Food Distributors International, through the knowledge and content portal FleetXchange, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AmeriQuest. AmeriQuest Premier Partners include Bandag Tires, Citgo, Yale, Morgan Corp., Sterling, Freightliner, ChemStation, and Allison Transmission, among others. Additional information is available at www.ameriquestcorp.com.

For more information regarding this release contact Ronald Margulis at RAM Communications 908.232.3230.