Sustainability
Our founders, Robert (RT) and Dorothy Tracy, taught frugality to their children and made it an essential part of the business as well.
In the Tracy's home, aluminum foil was cleaned and used again. At our headquarters, RT constantly walked around the office to turn off lights and copy machines. If you left an empty room with the lights still on, you would hear about it from RT later.
Their legacy of sustainability lives on in our company today. We track everything from utilities and water usage to truck and rail miles to ensure we are doing our part to reduce our impact on the planet.
Our Top Waste Elimination Methods
Food Donations
Since 2014, we've donated over 52 million pounds of food to keep it out of the landfill. Since COVID-19 hit in March 2020, we've donated 934,000 cases, or $21.48 million of product.
Paper Usage
By offering electronic transactions for all customer and vendor communications, we have reduced our companywide paper usage by 65 percent since 2008.
Recycled Materials
We have amplified our recycling efforts, with a 227 percent increase since 2008. In 2019, we recycled 2.97 million pounds of materials, such as plastic and broken pallets.
Repurposed Food Products
We donate food that is near expiration to farmers instead of disposing of it in the landfill. Each year, around 400,000 pounds of protein-free food is converted into hog feed.
Reduced Waste
We work to eliminate unnecessary processes from our work. This translates to less material, energy, and waste in our systems. In 2023 alone, we removed $10 million of waste using Lean methods.
Our Sustainability Initiatives
Energy Consumption
We have curbed our energy consumption by 35 percent through implementing the following technology in our warehouses:
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Refrigeration control systems
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Light dimmers
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Variable frequency drive systems
Supplier Sustainability
Plant Sourcing
When we pick up product at a manufacturing plant instead of the supplier's distribution center, we remove an average of 25,000 miles from Dot and our suppliers' supply chain annually. The product's freshness and integrity increase with this method as well.
LTL Shipments
We remove our suppliers' less-than-truckload (LTL) orders from the road, meaning fewer trucks are burning fuel and creating unnecessary carbon emissions. See how our business model helps suppliers save money and reduce their footprint.
"At Dot, success is when sustainability is no longer an initiative, but the way we approach our everyday work."
—Dick Tracy, Dot Foods CEO
Join Dot Foods
We are constantly growing and always looking for more diverse, unique, and exceptional people to join our team.
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