Fairchild Metro III

Just-in-Time Deliveries of the Live Kind

Just like manufacturers who rely on just-in-time systems, pet stores that specialize in the sale of exotic reptiles, amphibians, and birds don’t typically stockpile large quantities of feeder insects due to the short shelf life and specific care needs. Instead, they rely on frequent, ultra critical shipments to match their demand. Any delays or disruptions in deliveries could lead to a pet store having to temporarily source insects from third parties at greater expense, lost customer sales due to insects not being stocked, and ultimately, jeopardizing the well-being of animals in the care of pet stores and their customers.

The Challenge

An insect supplier to a large national pet store chain was satisfied with the performance of their current airfreight service, but there had been daily news stories recently of two of the biggest carriers threatening to strike, potentially leaving the supplier to scramble at the last minute to make alternate delivery arrangements. The pet store chain needed a dependable daily delivery of live crickets and mealworms for its dozens of retail locations whether the delivery services were on strike or not. Insects were perishable and sensitive to environmental conditions, so consistent deliveries and speed were critical. Traditional ground shipping couldn’t meet the early-morning delivery windows reliably, and commercial carriers posed risks like rough handling and unsuitable temperatures inside their delivery vans on especially hot or cold days.

How We Solve It

To get ahead of any threat of a national strike, the supplier contacted AirFreight.com through its online quote request system. An Expeditor familiar with live animal shipping and the route requirements responded quickly with a tailored plan for door-to-door express airfreight service.

Every evening, containers filled with live crickets and mealworms were packed onto netted pallets and picked up at the supplier’s facility. The pallets were driven to the nearest airport and loaded onto the medium-sized turboprop aircraft flying regional routes overnight. Throughout the flight, the Expeditor monitored the shipment and provided in-flight tracking updates to both the supplier and receiving stores. The flights landed near the major distribution hubs in the early morning hours. 

When the aircraft touched down, ground crews unloaded the pallets and couriers, who had been standing by quickly loaded the containers onto their vans to transport the insects directly to each pet store location. This minimized handling time and helped ensure the insects arrived alive, active, and ready for immediate stocking. Staff at each store transferred the containers to their habitat setups right as the doors opened each day.

This well-orchestrated supply chain allowed both the supplier and pet stores to maintain high standards of care, customer satisfaction, and efficiency. Reliable scheduled flights using regional aircraft keep costs predictable and reduce the need for unnecessary storage. The plan also reduced the chances of shipments being lost, damaged, and insect mortality. For situations that require even tighter timelines, clients can rely on complete shipment flexibility to address a particular need or emergency.