Xpedx's new Lakeland, Florida, distribution center provides customers with larger selection of inventory, says division manager Mike Natale, will generate productivity, efficiency gains for company with new management system

Kendall Sinclair

LAKELAND, Florida , April 23, 2012 (press release) – xpedx, a premier business-to-business distribution company, is already realizing significant customer benefits from its new 200,000 square foot mega-distribution center in Lakeland, Fla. xpedx recently began servicing Tampa, Orlando and all of northern, central and western Florida from the new mega center. Its sales and customer service offices remain in Tampa and Orlando, and xpedx’s total employment in the area is expected to increase by about 10 percent as a result of repositioning its locations for further business growth.

Mike Natale, division manager, xpedx Florida, says that packaging, facility supplies and print buyers now have access to a greater selection of inventory and will benefit from new productivity and efficiency gains at the mega-distribution center. The operational gains are outcomes of technology investments made by xpedx at its new Lakeland site.

“Not only does the larger space in Lakeland allow us to stock more products our customers want, but we have also invested in the RedPrairie Warehouse Management System which creates greater efficiency and accuracy in our operation,” Natale said.

Natale said RedPrairie, together with the collective expertise of the former Tampa and Orlando teams, helps xpedx Lakeland efficiently manage the thousands of SKUs they handle every day. The marriage of technology and experience improves order accuracy and drives many other operational benefits that lead to better customer service and business growth.

“Ultimately, these investments will allow us to increase our service area in Florida and support our goal of delivering the “perfect order” to more customers than ever before,” Natale said.

xpedx made the decision to reposition its Orlando and Tampa distribution centers to Lakeland after a thorough analysis revealed opportunities to better serve its packaging, facility solutions and print customers in Florida and grow its business in the state.

“The Lakeland distribution center provides xpedx with a greater opportunity to deliver products and services that will help customers improve operational efficiency, streamline purchasing and reduce total costs,” said John Biscanti, xpedx’s executive vice president, Operations. “We look forward to continuing to meet and exceed customer expectations and growing with our Florida customers.”

The new xpedx facility is located in Lakeland’s First Park at Bridgewater.


About xpedx

Cincinnati, Ohio-based xpedx, a business of International Paper (NYSE: IP), is one of the largest and premier distribution companies in North America. xpedx distributes a wide variety of print, packaging and facility solutions supplies and equipment to printers, manufacturers, retailers and commercial facilities across North America. For more information about xpedx, its business segments and stewardship efforts, visit xpedx.com.

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