As Americans hunkered down for COVID-19, they went big for the essentials. That included lots of cheese, among other foodstuffs. FreightWaves Shipper of Choice winners Agri-Mark and Kraft Heinz, and their partner carriers, answered the call.

During a time that tested the limits of the supply chain, Agri-Mark and Kraft Heinz stayed true to their strong, collaborative relationships with carriers.

"It's just the right thing to do regardless of market conditions," said Kevin Wille, head of U.S. Transportation for Kraft Heinz. "We're lucky that we're shipping a lot of freight." 

Or as Katie Dattilio, transportation logistics supervisor at Agri-Mark's Cabot Creamery in Vermont said, "At the end of the day, you treat people how you want to be treated." 

Agri-Mark and Kraft Heinz emerged among the best of the best in FreightWaves' Shipper of Choice Awards. Sponsored by Transflo, the awards recognize the top shippers out of 400 firms nominated by FreightWaves readers on social media.

Nominees each completed a survey covering operational data — including dwell times, overages/shortages and damages — communications protocols and hours of operations. They also supplied information about their facilities, such as shower availability, bathrooms and break areas for drivers. 

Kraft Heinz: Transparency, Consistency, And Listening 

Chicago-based Kraft Heinz is one of the world's largest food and beverage producers, doing $25 billion in sales in 2019. Despite the sheer scale of its U.S. operations, the company attends to small details and makes time for its carriers. 

"We try to be consistent as well as transparent with our carriers," Wille said.

Earlier in the spring, a truck driver observed that one of their sites used keypads for entry. The problem: Those numbered keys represented additional surfaces to touch during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We fixed it within about 24 hours of the driver mentioning it," Wille said.

What's notable, Wille said, was that the driver wasn't making a stink about it. But it quickly got relayed up the chain at Kraft Heinz.