QCS Purchasing LLC is a buying organization servicing more than 400 locations within its owner communities: SECO/Golden 100, Deland, Fla., Quality Chekd Dairies, Naperville, Ill., and Allied Purchasing, Mason City, Iowa. The combined company has been in operation since 2001 and was incorporated as QCS in early 2005. Since its inception, the organization has virtually doubled its purchasing volumes by leveraging its membership scale as well as creating innovative programs for its owners.
The group is primarily driven by two guiding principles. The first is to innovate while focusing on remaining the low-cost provider in its operating segments. The second is to deliver the highest returns to its buying members. The company is structured as a not-for-profit, meaning that all savings (after administrative expenses) are returned to its owners in the form of pricing discounts, rebates and patronage returns.
QCS Purchasing and its members also represent a diverse community in the market. While operating predominantly in the dairy foods industry, the group also represents significant buy volumes in bottled/office water products, carbonated beverages and the microbrew industry. Its membership is represented in a broad geographical area, including the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia and New Zealand.
The fully integrated purchasing company offers buying programs in most common procurement items such as packaging, ingredients, MRO (maintenance, repair and operation), cleaners and sanitizers and fleet, as well as other innovative programs such as national purchasing programs with FedEx and office supplies through Staples. Other value-added programs recently launched include a full array of online training modules focused on CIP, HAACP, GMPs, dairy distribution and employee safety training; all are available in English and Spanish.
The annual QCS Leadership Conference that is held each May provides the community additional opportunities such as educational workshops and a vendor tradeshow, which is attended by more than 75 supply companies, member networking activities and an award ceremony recognizing excellence within the member community. In recent years, the event has witnessed record attendance as the membership and suppliers recognize the importance of keeping up with industry challenges and changes.
QCS Purchasing is led by Peter Horvath, president and CEO, who along with a dedicated staff of professionals, has many years of industry experience and knowledge. “QCS Purchasing continues to commit itself to a ‘low cost/high value’ operating philosophy, which our owners require and, in fact, demand,” Horvath says. “Several of the most successful programs we have introduced are a national corrugated program based on formula pricing, a comprehensive online training system and an orange juice futures program. All have grown significantly in a very short period of time.
“Moving ahead, we will continue to challenge ourselves to develop new ways in which to innovate along with the support of our supply partners and members. We strive to create programs that are meaningful and offer a win-win for everyone involved. It does help that our owners are actively involved and that they are very proactive in the process. We feel we have plenty of upside potential in which to continue to grow,” Horvath says.
This article was prepared by QCS Purchasing. For more information, visit www.qcspurchasing.com.
QCS Purchasing’s core commitments are:
• Low-cost operation and high member returns
• Maximize members’ program participation
• Strong supply partner relationships
• Offer unique, value-added programs
• Continue to innovative how we do business to meet market challenges
