In 2018, Palmer Foodservice began looking to move off of their internally developed, highly customized core software platform to a more modern solution to manage their successful foodservice business. Their goal was to gain the tools and functionality to empower a data-driven management style across the organization.
Operating out of a state-of-the-art warehouse in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Palmer distributes food across Middle Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Southern Kentucky daily.
Palmer selected Prime FoodService Software, a complete ERP solution built into the Acumatica Cloud ERP framework. Palmer worked closely with NexVue, the developers of Prime FoodService, who implemented the solution and integrated it with Palmer’s existing inventory management solution, Dakota WMS. With the support of NexVue, Palmer went live on Prime FoodService in the spring of 2019.
While Palmer Foodservice began enjoying the benefits of faster order entry, catch weight calculations, and real-time data visibility on which to base their critical business decisions by using Prime FoodService Software, they had no idea how soon their new system would be tested.
In the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2020, a deadly tornado ripped through a 60 mile stretch of Middle Tennessee. Several national distributors were affected by the tornado and unable to provide needed food supplies to the region. Palmer was ready and able to fill the gap and provide expanded service to stores and restaurants across Middle Tennessee and beyond.
Less than 10 days later, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Palmer remains a line-line to the communities they serve.
Thanks to Prime FoodService being deployed in the Acumatica cloud, Palmer’s administrative employees are able to work from home while the organization continues to efficiently and effectively provide essential food supplies across their region.
“I am currently fully capable from my home office computer. The visibility and reporting at my fingertips are a lifesaver. I am homeschooling (the kids schools are closed for three weeks, maybe more) and running a multi-million-dollar company from home. I never thought I would get here until Acumatica and NexVue came into the picture,” said Liza Palmer Gipson, VP of Sales and Marketing for Palmer Foodservice.
Prime FoodService Software, built in Acumatica, has provided a superior technology foundation for Palmer than many others in their industry, including larger national organizations.
“I have never been more thankful that we are on “the Cloud”. I have spoken to many fellow foodservice companies that are not as fortunate as we are simply due to the capabilities that Acumatica has given us. We would not be doing what we are doing right now without it,” said Gipson
Palmer is quick to credit their Acumatica ERP partner and Prime FoodService developer, NexVue, with helping them thrive in unprecedentedly challenging times saying, “You know better than anyone the shortfall we would be feeling right now operating in our old system. From my team to yours, thank you for being a partner in our success.”