Richardson Internationals Global Agribusiness Strategy

Richardson International

Canadian leading agribusiness in food processing and manufacturing (Richardson International, 2020). Globally, it is a leading agriculture and food processing firm, servicing clients globally, and thus has invested heavily in global logistics and transportation. Among the many strategies that the company has adopted in effectively reaching the global client is to invest in port terminals (Richardson International, 2020). Richardson International has developed a network of strategically located port terminals in Canadian ports. These networks enable the company to navigate the international market with ease. Consequently, the company has also invested in research and development where it runs research activities in its various farms in Canada (Counter, 2019). Furthermore, the firm has also invested in its employees, where its international team is consisted of diverse workforce with varying capabilities. Furthermore, consistently investing in innovation in its operations including farming, processing and manufacturing, and transportation logistics, has enabled the company to always stay ahead of the competition. Additionally, the company has also invested a lot in community development, ensuring that its corporate social responsibility strategies are linked to its business strategy (Richardson International, 2020). However, in 2019, the company was banned by the Chinese government from exporting its product “Canola” to the country, because of allegations that it had harmful organisms (The Canadian Press, 2019). The case of China barring Richardson International from transporting canola into China implies that international firms especially those dealing with agricultural products do not only face logistic challenges related to the means of transport they use, but also issues customs and international food regulations.

Representatives to interview

1. Anthony Robert (Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety, Winnipeg, MB Canada)
2. Shannon Turnbull (Director of Operations, Winnipeg, MB, Canada)
3. Marty Cielen (Director, Rail Transportation, Winnipeg, MB, Canada)

Open-ended questions

1. In a large and international company as Richardson International, how and in what way do you always ensure that logistics and transportation activities are conducted as planned? (Tang, 2007).
2. Dealing with food processing and trading agricultural produce is always faced with healthy risks as the one raised by China concerning canola a year ago (The Canadian Press, 2019). How do you always ensure that such issues do not arise?
3. How do you ensure that your logistics and transportation costs are always minimised and issues non-existent, to always remain afloat and thus make a profit? (Juttner, Peck, & Christopher, 2010).

Richlu Manufacturing

A sportswear manufacturer founded in 1939, and has heavily invested in the design and manufacture of high-quality insulated outerwear, with categorisations of the said outerwear done under different brand labels (Company-Listing, 2020). The leading brand labels for the company include work hose, tough duck, golden goose, and work kind among others (Tough Duck, 2020). Richlu Manufacturing has focused on serving clients on a global scale, mainly in the United States, Europe, New Zealand, and Japan (Company-Listing, 2020). The strategy adopted by the manufacturer is that of an integrated network of departments, chain, and independent retailers. Being the largest company manufacturing insulated workwear in Canada under its tough duck and work king brand labels, the company has found huge and continued success in the garment manufacturing industry. Its garments are produced in different factories in Manitoba, Canada, which run under a quality control system to ensure that each product matches the customer’s expectations (Company-Listing, 2020). Consequently, the company runs a distribution centre in Winnipeg, where they have warehouses for their manufactured products, and from there, are distributed to different stores around the world, where they have their chain and independent retailers stationed. Having a centralised warehouse system and an integrated system of departmental stores, chain, and independent retailers ensures that the manufacturer’s clients are served promptly as their orders fall due. It is also important to note that the company also invests heavily in marketing, especially with the “tough, durable, warm, comfortable, and completely affordable” slogan (Company-Listing, 2020). It is clear, from the company’s success, that this marketing strategy has always kept the company ahead of its competitors.

Representatives to interview

1. Mary Tatham (Manager-Export Sales & Marketing , Tel: (204) 942-3494)
2. Mary Tatham (Manager-Export Sales & Marketing , Tel: (204) 942-3494)
3. David Rich (Manager-Management Executive)

Open-ended questions

1. What are the challenges the company is facing in regards to adapting to a circular economy model? Especially from a transport and logistics’ perspective? (Koszewska, 2019).
2. Forced and trafficked labour is among the major controversial and ethical issues facing the fashion industry at the moment (Suhrawardi, 2019). What are the strategies, including in its supply-chain management, that your company has adopted to deal with these issues?
3. How are you managing your “apparel logistics” to ensure that you are always ahead of the competition? (Mordor Intelligence, 2019).

Bison Transport

Incorporated in 1969 with just 32 employees and 18 tractors serving the construction industry, Bison Transport has seen tremendous growth in recent years to a level where it has employed over 2,900 employees, and operates over 1,700 tractors (Bison Transport, 2020). According to the company’s website, it is among the top transporters in Canada, serving over 48 states neighbouring Canada. Dedicated fleet operations, full truckload service, yard management, full-service logistics, and warehousing and distribution are among the major areas of services offered by the transporter (Bison Transport, 2020). To ensure that these services are offered in the best way possible and better than the competition, the company’s mission and core values have been linked with safety, the spirit of family, exceptional service, and sustainable business as well as instilling a habit of success to the employees. According to the CEO of Bison Transport, the company has succeeded in the transport sector by willingness to change, leveraging collective knowledge, and experience towards ensuring that customers are provided with distinct competitive advantages in the marketplace. Furthermore, being in the transport industry, Bison Transport has invested considerable efforts in corporate social responsibility. Consequently, the company has ensured that CSR initiatives like environmental sustainability are incorporated in the daily operations (Bison Transport, 2020). Furthermore, giving back to the community has also been part of the company’s CSR strategy. This way, and by ensuring that customers are served excellently with professionalism and as well by employees upholding the company’s core values, Bison Transportation has grown to become one of the largest transporters in Canada.

Representatives to interview

1. Don Sreuber (Executive Chairman)
2. Rob Penner (President & C.E.O)
3. Brad Chase (Senior Vice-President of Logistics and Multimodal)

Open-ended interview questions

1. Disruptive technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and autonomous transportation have brought about a number of challenges to the transportation industry (Research and Markets, 2019). How exactly are you dealing with these challenges?
2. How are you dealing with global pressures towards ensuring that every company in this sector (transportation) implements green supply chain management practices? (Jazairy & von Haartman, 2019).
3. Psychological and physical stress are among the major health risks professional truck drivers are faced with (Semeijn et al., 2019). What steps have you taken to ensure that this is not the case with professional truck drivers at Bison Transportation?

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References

• Bison Transport (2020). About us. Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: https://www.bisontransport.com/about
• Company-Listing (2020). Richlu Sportswear Winnipeg Pants & Sportswear Mfg. Ltd. Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: http://www.companylisting.ca/Richlu_Manufacturing/default.aspx
• Counter, R. (2019). How a 160-year-old Canadian farming company is embracing food innovation: Richardson International has customers in 60 countries and a $30-million project underway in Winnipeg. A little trouble from China won’t faze it. Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/richardson-international-food-innovation-best-managed-canada/
• Jazairy, A., & von Haartman, R. (2019). Analyzing the institutional pressures on shippers and logistics service providers to implement green supply chain management practices. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 23(1): 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2019.1584163
• Juttner, U., Peck, H., & Christopher, M. (2010). Supply chain risk management: outlining an agenda for future research. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 6(4): 197-210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13675560310001627016
• Koszewska, M. (2018). Circular Economy — Challenges for the Textile and Clothing Industry. AUTEX Research Journal, 18(4): 1-10. DOI: 10.1515/aut-2018-0023 © AUTEX. Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326546054_Circular_Economy_-_Challenges_for_the_Textile_and_Clothing_Industry
• Mordor Intelligence (2019). Apparel logistics market- growth, trends, and forecast (2020 - 2025). Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/apparel-logistics-market
• Research and Markets (2019). Global Supply Chain Logistics Report 2019: Trends and Challenges and Their Implications on Commercial Vehicles with Forecast to 2025. Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-supply-chain-logistics-report-2019-trends-and-challenges-and-their-implications-on-commercial-vehicles-with-forecast-to-2025-300951829.html
• Richardson International (2020). About us. Retrieved on 12th February 2020 from: https://www.richardson.ca/about-us/