Stater Bros. Deepens Commitment to Reusables with Expanded IFCO Partnership

• Expanded RPC adoption brings operational and sustainability wins to leading SoCal grocer
• Grower preference and customer satisfaction key drivers in broadening reusable packaging use

TAMPA, FL – April 24, 2025 – Stater Bros. Markets, Southern California’s largest privately owned supermarket chain, has announced an expanded strategic partnership with IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions. Under a new multi-year agreement, Stater Bros. will extend its use of IFCO reusable packaging containers (RPCs) to a broader assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables across its nearly 170 stores.

The deepened collaboration is expected to drive significant operational improvements while supporting sustainability objectives and enhancing product quality for shoppers.

Maximizing operational efficiency, cutting down on damage and solid waste

The announcement followed a detailed supply chain evaluation conducted jointly by IFCO and Stater Bros. The assessment included hands-on reviews of distribution centers and store operations, along with input from key produce suppliers. The joint effort uncovered opportunities to increase product freshness, reduce costs, and improve labor efficiency across the supply chain.

Transitioning to IFCO RPCs from single-use packaging for items like carrots, corn, stone fruits, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and various wet and soft vegetables provides better protection during palletization, transport, and storage. Growers have been supportive of the move. According to Stater Bros., more than 80% of its produce suppliers would opt for IFCO RPCs when given the choice.

Brian Sahargun, Senior Manager of Produce at Stater Bros., emphasized the collaboration’s practical benefits.

“We appreciate the close collaboration with the IFCO team and their commitment to providing the best possible packaging solution for our specific needs,” he said. “As more of our fresh products are transported in IFCO RPCs, we can maximize the operational and sustainability benefits. Their durability makes it easier to securely stack, store and transport fresh products more efficiently. This is an exciting development, as shown by the positive response of our key suppliers in choosing to use IFCO RPCs to transport their fresh products.”

The retailer has also seen benefits within store environments. With IFCO RPCs reducing the volume of packaging waste, store associates are spending less time on waste handling and more time with customers—a change that improves service and boosts morale.

More time for staff to spend with shoppers

Jacob Cadwallader, Director of Produce at Stater Bros., noted the improvements in store operations and shopper experience.

“As we continue to reduce single-use packaging in our stores, we’re changing our store environment. Our teammates will spend less time in the back handling packaging waste but more time in the store with our customers, which is where they prefer to be,” he said. “Additionally, the highly ventilated and robust design of the IFCO RPCs ensures our products are kept fresher for longer, cutting down on shrink and waste. And it’s our customers who ultimately appreciate the results, which is consistently high-quality fresh produce in our stores.”

The partnership reflects a shared focus on both operational performance and environmental responsibility. IFCO’s reusable packaging pooling model is designed to save time and space while lowering environmental impacts in fresh food supply chains.

“IFCO is proud to partner with Stater Bros. and support their pursuit of service excellence,” said Jon Brooks, Vice President, Retail Sales at IFCO. “Our circular economy pooling model saves retailers time, space and effort all while reducing the environmental impacts of their supply chain.”

Stater Bros. aligns its operations with the motto Fresh. Affordable. Community First. and the partnership with IFCO is an extension of that mission. By advancing sustainable practices and investing in long-term improvements, the company is strengthening its connection with the communities it serves.

About Stater Bros. Markets

Communities throughout Southern California look to Stater Bros. Markets and its nearly 170 stores and 18,000 employees for their daily grocery shopping needs. Learn more at www.staterbros.com.

About IFCO

IFCO is a leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh foods in more than 50 countries. The company operates a pool of over 395 million reusable packaging containers globally, which are used in over 2.2 billion shipments annually. Find out more at www.ifco.com

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Rick LeBlanc

Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.