How Red Apple Stores Reduced Annual Freight Spend by 25% with Princeton TMX

Situation

Red Apple is a well-established Canadian retailer with over 140 locations, primarily serving remote and underserved communities. With a complex supply chain spanning inbound shipments from domestic and U.S. vendors, outbound distribution to stores, and international imports, logistics plays a critical role in maintaining profitability and service levels.

As the company expanded its vendor network to stay competitive, the demands on its transportation operations grew significantly.

The Challenge

Red Apple’s transportation strategy was built around a small group of carriers, creating a dependency that limited flexibility and drove up costs. With only a handful of partners managing both inbound and outbound freight, pricing and service levels were largely dictated by the carriers, not the business.

At the same time, rising competition and market volatility made it increasingly difficult to protect margins. Fixed-rate agreements often failed to reflect real-time market conditions, leaving the team overpaying for shipments.

Operationally, the process was just as challenging. Shipment coordination relied heavily on emails, manual follow-ups, and fragmented communication, slowing down workflows and increasing the burden on the logistics team.

While the team recognized the value of a tendering system to introduce competition, traditional enterprise solutions were too costly and complex to justify.

The Solution

Red Apple partnered with Princeton TMX to implement a flexible, AI-powered TMS platform designed around its specific needs, not a one-size-fits-all product.

From the outset, Princeton TMX took a different approach, working closely with both leadership and day-to-day users to understand their workflows, challenges, and priorities.

The result was a tailored solution that balanced strategic visibility with operational simplicity.

Key capabilities included:

●     A dynamic tendering system that introduced real competition across a growing carrier network

●     Real-time visibility and reporting, enabling side-by-side comparisons of carrier rates, performance, and participation

●     Streamlined workflows that replaced manual email coordination with a centralized platform

●     Hands-on onboarding and training, including webinars and resources to ensure rapid adoption across both internal teams and carriers

When internal stakeholders raised concerns about complexity, Princeton TMX quickly adapted, reworking workflows to simplify processes without increasing costs. This responsiveness ensured smooth adoption across departments.

Outcome

The impact was immediate and measurable:

●     25% reduction in inbound transportation costs year over year

●     50%+ improvement in operational efficiency, significantly reducing manual workload

●     Access to 600% more carrier capacity, increasing competition and flexibility

●     Visibility into carrier pricing variance, revealing cost differences of up to 50%

With greater visibility and control, Red Apple’s logistics team can now consolidate shipments, optimize routing, and respond more effectively to market changes, turning transportation from a cost center into a strategic advantage.

The Takeaway

For Red Apple, the biggest differentiator wasn’t just the technology; it was the partnership.

“If I had to describe the experience in one word, it would be adaptability. The team can adapt to any business need and focuses on doing the right thing for the customer.”

By combining flexibility, visibility, and a customer-first approach, Princeton TMX empowered Red Apple to modernize its transportation strategy without the cost and complexity of traditional systems.