Z.T. Distribution, Inc.
Address: 5441 S. 9th St., Milwaukee
Year founded: 1919
Product or service offered: Z.T. Distribution, Inc. is a direct store service distribution company for retail grocery.
Projected 2014 revenue: More than $12 million
President and owner: Scot Trojanowski
Target clientele: All retail grocery
What has fueled your company’s growth? “Z.T. Distribution, Inc. services more than 330 retail grocery locations in Wisconsin and Illinois. Our delivery logistics operate six days a week and store level service operations work seven days a week (including holidays). Our motto is, ‘If the grocery stores are open, so are we.’ One principle that has not changed over the generations is that service is paramount – it is who we are, the value we add, and what makes us stand out from the rest. We also recognize that corporate relationships are necessary to take full advantage of our store level service capabilities.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth? “Margin requirements are always the biggest challenge. Balancing the costs of maintaining the full service overhead and a retail price that will keep a product competitive can be difficult.”
Do you plan to make any changes in your company in the coming months? “We have created a business analyst position and have identified an internal candidate to promote.”
What is the outlook for the business conditions of your industry over the next several months? “Challenging, but extremely positive.”
What is your company’s most important growth strategy right now? “Same store growth. We are focused on maximizing our assets in the retail locations that we currently service. We have given this much greater priority than growing geographically.”
