Equip Foods Scales Seamlessly with a Best-in-Class 3PL Transition Led by Operating Crew
“Operating Crew was an instrumental part of our recent 3PL transition with their expert guidance and thorough approach. They identified and introduced us to our new 3PL partner, then conducted comprehensive data analysis that revealed significant cost savings and operational efficiencies. Throughout the integration process, they provided strategic support at every step, helping us navigate challenges and optimize our approach. Their deep expertise and hands-on commitment to our success made them exceptional partners to work with.”
Jake | Supply Chain at Equip Foods
Company Overview
Equip Foods is a fast-growing nutrition brand with mid–eight figure revenues, selling both DTC and on Amazon. Their mission is to raise industry standards with clean, high-quality supplements that are transparently tested and free from unnecessary additives. With products like protein, collagen, and colostrum, Equip blends simplicity, taste, and integrity to help people nourish their health while setting a new benchmark for the supplement space.
"Operating Crew was an instrumental part of our recent 3PL transition with their expert guidance and thorough approach. "
— Jake R., Product and Supply Chain
Challenges Faced
Like many high-growth brands we’ve worked with, Equip found that rapid order growth and Amazon’s compliance rules exposed cracks in their fulfillment setup:
Rising order volumes and seasonal spikes created strain the existing 3PL could not absorb.
The existing 3PL setup could not scale efficiently or meet Amazon requirements (FBA prep, Transparency program) consistently.
The brand needed transparent pricing, stronger account management, and reliable operational execution.
Transition risk was high, with a brand refresh underway, subscription flows to protect, and a firm cutover deadline approaching
How We Helped
Equip needed both a scalable 3PL partner and the confidence that a complex transition could be pulled off without disrupting customer trust. We stepped in with a structured, operator-led process that addressed both.
Requirements Alignment: We worked with Equip to map growth trajectory, fulfillment pain points, and translate them into clear criteria for scalability, Amazon compliance, and pricing transparency.
Curated 3PL Search: We then vetted our network of proven food/supplement 3PLs to identify 3PLs that could be a good fit for Equip’s fulfillment needs, coordinated RFPs, and facilitated direct conversations — including a facility visit to validate operational fit and culture.
Transparent Comparisons: We delivered side-by-side models of costs, SLAs, and services, highlighting trade-offs and strengths across partners.
Decision Support: We modeled all-in fulfillment costs (storage, pick/pack, value-added services), validated Amazon compliance readiness, and consolidated feedback so Equip could select with confidence.
The Transition
Transitioning from one 3PL to another is one of the highest-risk moves in supply chain. It touches every order, every customer, and every system — and failure can mean missed shipments, angry customers, and damaged brand trust. For Equip, the complexity was even higher with a brand refresh, subscription flows, and a fixed cutover deadline. Operating Crew approached it with enterprise-grade rigor across the following elements:
Cutover Plan: Clear calendar with built-in buffers.
Testing: 10+ trial orders across service levels, bundles, and compliance rules.
Integrations: Shopify, subscriptions, returns, and discounts fully validated.
Inventory: Staged transfers to prevent stranded SKUs.
On-Site: War-room monitoring with real-time dashboards.
Training: Updated SOPs for customer service and warehouse teams.
Go-Live: Seamless switch — 3,000+ orders shipped Day One.
Results Achieved
Equip didn’t just switch 3PLs — they built a scalable fulfillment foundation.
With our support, they:
Launched with an industry-leading 3PL ready to support both DTC and Amazon growth.
Achieved significant cost savings through transparent pricing and streamlined operations.
Shipped 3,000+ customer orders seamlessly on Day One of go-live.
Gained the ability to flex with seasonal peaks and complex Amazon requirements.
Secured a high-touch partner relationship from search to onboarding and beyond
This wasn’t about simply finding a new warehouse — it was about execution at an enterprise level. By stress-testing every order flow, staging inventory, and co-locating during cutover week, we ensured no detail was left to chance.
Equip Foods is setting a new standard in nutrition with real food–based supplements. We’re proud to support their mission with fulfillment that can scale as fast as their growth.
With Operating Crew, they’re not just fulfilling orders — they’re scaling with confidence.
