John Brewer, director of distribution and logistics for CKE Restaurants, has been in the food distribution business for close to two and a half decades, a span that included 9/11 among other natural and human-caused disasters. But the impact of COVID-19 on the supply chain was an entirely new experience for him, as refrigerated capacity tightened and reefer tender rejection rates shot to new heights.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire career,” said Brewer, during the FreightWaves Cold Chain Summit on Friday.

CKE is the parent company for fast food chains Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. In his role, Brewer manages distribution and logistics for all 50 states, a position that includes distribution centers, redistributors, carriers, final-mile delivery “and anything else that crops up at the moment,” he said.

CKE operates 3,000 stores coast to coast and in Alaska and Hawaii. Brewer’s team delivers to each of those stores at least once a week and the majority at least twice a week.

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