Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/591462
1 4 | BULLDOG | 2 0 1 5 V 3 Hollywood Feed specializes in premium food and products for dogs and cats. The company decided to lease their own fl eet of Mack Pinnacle trucks to take their distribution to the next level. AT WORK M emphis business owner Shawn McGhee believes in being the best, and that culture of excellence has resulted in astronomical growth for his company, Hollywood Feed. Today, he is reshaping the pet industry and setting a new standard for his customers. It is no coincidence that when he decided to operate his own, in-house fl eet, Mack ® trucks were his equipment of choice for reliability, repu- tation and cost effi ciency. There was another benefi t: The bright yellow Mack Pinnacles TM are so eye-catching that they have become an inte- gral part of Hollywood Feed's branding campaign. McGhee is no stranger to success. He rose rapidly through the managerial ranks of both AutoZone and Offi ce Depot, and when his keen eye spotted three failing feed stores, he knew he could make them profi table. In 2006, he pur- chased the stores and revamped them from the ground up. Today, Hollywood Feed focuses exclusively on premium products for dogs and cats, with more than 40 stores in fi ve states — Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. McGhee expects to build 20 new stores in 2016. Revenue is increasing by 40-50 percent per year. "If we can't do something really well, we don't do it at all," he says. Keeping costs down was a top priority, but when McGhee ran the numbers, he realized he could get better service at a lower price if he operated his own fl eet rather than relying on a carrier. There was an added advantage, too: The stores are busy in the daytime and parking is scarce, but if he hired his own drivers, he could schedule overnight, unattended deliveries. He started out with another OEM, but in 2013, he called Tri-State Truck Center in Memphis. The company was growing fast, and he needed equipment better suited for his operation. After exhaustive research, he decided Mack Trucks could take Hollywood Feed's distribution to the next level. He currently holds full-service leases on fi ve Mack Pinnacle models and plans to rotate them out every four to fi ve years. "We chose Mack because of the reputation and reliability," McGhee says. "We drove other brands, but we weren't happy with the drivability and cab accessories. Our drivers love the Macks." Each tractor and trailer is custom retrofi tted to meet the company's unique needs, says Eric Fite, vice president of Tri-State Truck Center in Memphis. The biggest challenge was spec'ing the right wheelbase size and trailer size to maximize pay- load and maneuverability. They decided to go with an extra-short, extra-wide trailer 42 feet long with an interior of 100 inches wide. A breed apart Mack Trucks drive Hollywood Feed's premium pet product success. Story and Photos by Carmen K. Sisson