Rutherford & Associates Ends Milestone Year with Client Expansion, New Hires
HOLLAND, Mich., Dec. 17, 2008 - Rutherford & Associates, the industry leading route accounting and management software for food and beverage distributors, announces a new round of client growth that includes Andrews Distributing of Texas and Anderson Distributing of Jackson, Mich. as it celebrates its fifth anniversary of business and growth.
Andrews Distributing is ranked among U.S. beer distributors as number eight in sales, five in revenue and six in volume.
With the recent round of expansion, Rutherford’s flagship product, eoStar, now handles the distribution of more than $1.5 billion in consumer packed goods, predominately beer and wine, per year.
First released in 2003, Rutherford & Associates’ flagship product, eoStar, is designed to effectively integrate the various functions of the business including: field sales, delivery fleet management, and the warehouse, front and back office operations through advanced wireless technology. In addition, eoStar is built upon an innovative and industry-leading platform that allows for advanced customization of the software to meet the diverse and challenging needs of each client.
Rutherford was also recently selected as a Corp! Magazine’s “Best of Michigan Business” honoree. The award recognizes the growth that Rutherford has experienced, as well as the dedication and excellence that it serves its clients with.
“We have experienced unprecedented growth as the beer industry seeks to replace legacy systems and combine technologies because of industry consolidation, and market expansion,” said Michael Rutherford, CEO of Rutherford & Associates. “eoStar continues to offer our clients world-class software distribution technology, from handheld devices to fuel cost analysis, and we’re looking forward to continuing to innovate on behalf of our progressive customers.”
In the past year, Rutherford has hired six new employees, including its newest hire, sales director, Mason Hoffman. The company has demonstrated three-fold growth in the past five years and boasts more than 20 employees. Rutherford plans to add nine more to its staff in Q1 of 2009.
In September, eoStar unveiled a product upgrade at the National Beer Wholesaler Association event in San Francisco that includes enhancements to route distribution mapping for fuel efficiency, report and promotion creation and mobile-device interoperability to enable beer and wine distributors to operate lean and green in times of industry consolidation and rapidly changing business dynamics.
The Sept. 15 product upgrade features include:
—Mobile application enhancements: Redesigned eoMobile application offering support for free goods, more downloadable reporting, and easier to use interface for drivers and salespeople.
—Microsoft Tablet PC integration: The tablet application integration provides presell agents bigger screens to increase efficiency and work productivity while on the road.
—Fuel cost analysis: Calculate route fuel costs within eoStar to configure most efficient routes for beer and wine distribution.
—MillerCoors application enhancements: Tighter integration with Coors and Miller forecast and purchasing tools.
“We are pleased to be recognized and received as an innovative technology company serving the beer, wine and consumer packaged goods industry,” said Rutherford.
Rutherford & Associates is a Strategic Partner of MillerCoors, and is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner in three competencies: business intelligence, data management solutions and ISV/software solutions.
About Rutherford & Associates, Inc.
Rutherford is an American company bringing over 20 years of route accounting software experience to beer and wine distributors. Rutherford is dedicated to keeping your business running at full-speed with a support group that is committed to answering your calls courteously, promptly and professionally.
In November 2007, MillerCoors company named Rutherford & Associates a Strategic Partner. This tremendous honor bestowed by MillerCoors upon Rutherford means that Rutherford and MillerCoors work closely on the technological roadmap and implementation to better the MillerCoors distributor system.
Rutherford provides customers with the tools, training and resources they need to more effectively manage their inventory, mobile resources and assets to enhance revenue, reduce operating costs and improve customer service. Rutherford is headquartered in Holland, Michigan and is privately-held. For more information please visit us at http://www.eostar.com or contact our sales department at 800-270-7558.
Rutherford(R) and eoStar(R) are registered trademark of Rutherford & Associates, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright (C) 2008 Rutherford & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: Rutherford & Associates, Inc.
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