How Sara Lee Frozen Bakery Achieves Sustainable Supply Chain Growth

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, a leading manufacturer of frozen baked goods and desserts, faced the complex challenge of accurately predicting what their fuel spend was going to be and optimizing their extensive transportation network. With a commitment to operational excellence, they recognized the need for more transparent fuel management and deeper visibility into their freight operations.

By partnering with Breakthrough in 2021, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery transformed their approach to transportation network management. Through the implementation of Fuel Recovery and Network Intelligence solutions, they achieved greater cost predictability, uncovered opportunities that resulted in an 8% reduction in total freight spend, and established a strategic framework that continues to drive value across their operations.

The challenge: managing volatility in a complex transportation network

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery needed a reliable way to measure and budget fuel expenses while distinguishing between truckload and intermodal fuel costs. "Fuel was one of those volatile things that we needed to have better predictability on in terms of total spend," shared Jerry Zyskowski, Director of Logistics at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. Without access to accurate data and forecasting, planning became a challenge in a dynamic fuel market.

The team required actionable intelligence, including lane-specific insights, carrier performance analysis, and opportunities for optimization—valuable insights their lean logistics team could leverage to drive smarter decisions and improve operational efficiency.

With the Fuel Recovery program, they gained the ability to calculate market-based fuel reimbursements and analyze fuel consumption at the load level, resulting in an 18% reduction in total fuel spend. Paired with Breakthrough’s North American Fuel Advisor, which provides data-driven insights into diesel price trends, market dynamics, and forecasts, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery achieved greater visibility and control over their fuel spend.

Achieving transparency with a zero-base strategy

A significant milestone in their journey was the adoption of a zero-base strategy. This strategy created clear separation between linehaul rates and fuel costs, establishing transparency that benefited both Sara Lee Frozen Bakery and their carrier partners. Sara Lee Frozen Bakery found the transition remarkably smooth. "We wanted our carriers to have a really good view into what our expectations are on fuel spend, and that has helped us with convincing our carriers to be part of that and have a positive experience with it," Zyskowski shared.

Advancing objectives with network analytics

Recognizing the value of their initial partnership, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery expanded their relationship with Breakthrough by implementing Network Intelligence. "Implementing Network Intelligence was really driven by the need for us to better understand freight spend, better understand what our capabilities are, especially on a carrier front," Zyskowski explained. "With the amount of freight we move, it’s challenging for a small team to manage it all while identifying opportunities across our lanes.”

By implementing Network Intelligence, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery gained access to strategic insights across all their lanes and modes of transportation. The platform allowed them to compare their weekly spend on a lane-level against their RFP rates and Breakthrough's real-time, shipper-transacted benchmark data. This helped them identify whether they were staying within budget or if there were opportunities for better partnerships or cost savings.

The weekly readouts from Breakthrough's team also became a cornerstone of their operational strategy. “Breakthrough’s data showed us where we had opportunities to improve,” Zyskowski noted. “For instance, there were specific lanes where we were moving several loads per day, and Breakthrough highlighted benchmarks that suggested we could source a carrier at a lower rate. That insight pushed us to re-evaluate those lanes and uncover savings we hadn’t identified before.”

The partnership with Breakthrough not only optimized Sara Lee Frozen Bakery’s transportation strategy but also strengthened their carrier relationships. The transparency and strategic alignment fostered mutual trust, ultimately enhancing service reliability and building a more resilient supply chain.

Driving innovation and sustainable growth through strategic partnerships

By leveraging Breakthrough’s expertise and data-driven insights, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery was able to advance their transportation operations, achieving measurable cost savings and improved efficiency. This collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships can drive innovation and create long-term value for businesses. Through transparency, trust, and alignment, Sara Lee Frozen Bakery not only optimized their supply chain but also built a framework for sustainable growth in a rapidly changing logistics landscape.