Business Development, Marketing at Burris Logistics

TMSA Member Spotlight:
Business Development and Marketing At Burris Logistics

Burris Logistics provides temperature-controlled supply chain solutions at all points of the supply chain through four distinct operating divisions:

• Burris Custom Retail Distribution – provides procurement, warehousing, and distribution services as part of a total distribution solution.
• Burris PRW Plus – provides refrigerated warehousing (Public Refrigerated Warehousing) solutions with added value services customized for individual clients which are primarily, but not exclusively provided for food manufactures and processors.
• Burris Transportation – provides refrigerated freight management solutions for food shippers utilizing a network of carrier partners as well as the Burris owned fleet.
• Honor Foods – is a redistributor of frozen and refrigerated foodservice products. While wholly owned, the Honor name and brand have retained.

Founded in 1925, Burris has evolved and grown throughout its history by being agile, flexible and committed to customer service excellence and constant improvement. The uniqueness of Burris can be found in the uniqueness of its customized solutions. Each solution is unique to the needs of a specific customer. These solutions are true partnerships where Burris provides next level services including shared proprietary technologies, procurement services, owned and consigned inventory management systems, food safety and compliance assistance, and even builds customized facilities and provides dedicated fleets for some clients. All of these services are designed to create value by partnering, lending specialized expertise, helping customers succeed, and at all times meeting their needs – which is paramount.

John Haggerty, Vice President of Burris Logistics, describes the role and important of marketing/sales to the organization this way: "Burris Logistics markets to a broad and diverse industry wide audience of food manufactures, processors, shippers, distributors, and retailers more broad and general messages. Conversely we market to more narrow segments, channels, and groups as well using more refined messages. Ultimately, marketing Burris successfully builds top of mind awareness. When our marketing efforts are effective, we are afforded the opportunity to connect with clients early in the process as they begin identify needs. Then, we collaborate and further analyze their needs with them. Eventually the process leads to the solution design phase where clients have a great deal of input and always remain in control. If we market, collaborate, and design solutions well – little, if any selling is required as the client is ultimately getting the customized solution they need and want."

Business development responsibilities at Burris Logistics are both strategic and tactical, according to Haggerty. "Our activities encompass industry engagement, trade and professional association relationship management, marketing, and the beginning of the new business sales process," he says. "Our marketing efforts are diverse and include traditional and emerging (social) media, digital messaging and distribution, video, web, and direct marketing. Business development provides a bridge between marketing and sales. When successful, our marketing and business development efforts create more opportunities to provide solutions (sell)."

Why has Burris Logistics become a TMSA member? "We would like to learn and share ideas with members in much the same way we collaborate with customers; we would like to collaborate with other solution providers," says Haggerty. "We are also eager to learn how we can best participate, contribute and become further engaged as TMSA members."