ATD 'transforming' its sales, supply-chain teams

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) is transforming the way its sales and supply-chain teams conduct business by "empowering associates to grow and specialize in their respective fields to drive value-creation" for ATD customers.

The wholesale distributor rolled out the revamped sales and supply-chain team responsibilities at a national field leadership team meeting in Huntersville the week of June 12.

"Our goal is to equip our sales team to anticipate the needs of each customer today and tomorrow supported by our breadth and availability," said ATD President and CEO Stuart Schuette.

"We are on our journey of transformation because we believe it is the right direction for our company, our associates, our customers and our suppliers … at exactly the right time."

In essence, the company recognized that its rapid growth-by-acquisition strategy of the past few years had resulted in many jobs that were hybrids of sales and supply-chain responsibilities. The new focus is designed to define job roles more specifically and assign personnel accordingly, a company spokesperson said.

To promote the adoption of the new alignment, the company is providing professional development and training to support employees in their growth, allowing each individual to define his or her career path, ATD said.

Huntersville-based ATD operates more than 140 distribution centers throughout North America, serving approximately 115,000 customer delivery points, The company recently expanded its Canadian holdings, acquiring Pneus Superieurs Inc., a Quebec wholesaler with three distribution centers in that province.