About

With over a century of growth, this food and beverage giant has expanded its portfolio to serve both people and pets. Today, it stands as one of the largest companies in the U.S., operating across 100 countries and managing a travel program exceeding $150 million.

Ambition

The company recognized the urgent need to modernize its travel and expense (T&E) ecosystem to enhance the employee travel experience and drive greater efficiency. Rising compliance issues, traveler dissatisfaction, low online adoption rates, and process inefficiencies signaled that the existing model was no longer sustainable.

Seeking a comprehensive transformation, the company turned to Areka for a 360° strategic review—examining everything from the traveler journey and TMC service effectiveness to technology, supplier contracts, governance protocols, and sustainability efforts.

Approach

To address the client’s multifaceted challenges, Areka conducted a full-scale evaluation, focusing on the four critical pillars of a best-in-class T&E program:

Using a combination of industry expertise, internal benchmarks, qualitative interviews, and quantitative surveys, Areka analyzed stakeholder feedback, supplier contracts, and program data to evaluate contract competitiveness and uncover inefficiencies.

Areka provided a comprehensive assessment of the company’s current T&E landscape, identifying key opportunities for improvement and delivering actionable recommendations.

• Deep-Dive Analysis – A detailed breakdown of the company’s T&E ecosystem, highlighting gaps and inefficiencies
• Visualized Findings – Data-driven insights supported by financial modeling and interactive visualizations to explore cost-saving opportunities
• Strategic "What-If" Scenarios – Simulating potential outcomes for different restructuring models
• TMC Performance Mapping – Radar (spider) charts illustrating global and regional pain points and perception gaps among stakeholders

By leveraging a holistic approach backed by data and analytics, Areka delivered a transformational roadmap—empowering the company to modernize its T&E program, enhance traveler satisfaction, and optimize costs.

Upon project completion, Areka’s client gained the critical insights and strategic direction needed to redefine its travel and expense program. Equipped with a clear vision, financial projections, and a structured implementation plan, the company was well-prepared to navigate complexities with confidence—driving tangible, long-term improvements across its T&E ecosystem.

Achievement

By leveraging Areka’s expertise and data-driven insights, the company is now on a path to a more efficient, cost-effective, and traveler-friendly T&E program—delivering lasting value at every level. In less than  2.5 months, the Areka team delivered actionable senarios for key program components, including :

• TMC Tender Strategy – Three tender scenarios with cost-benefit analysis.
• Online Booking Tool Enhancement – Two  pathways for increasing adoption and efficiency.
• Expense Management Evolution – Two roadmap options for tool enhancement.
• Innovative Payment Strategy – Developed a business case for a new payment framework to improve efficiency.
• Policy & Governance Enhancements – Recommendations for an improved Global Travel Policy, covering governance, local deviations, compliance monitoring, and communication strategies.
• Sustainability Integration – Designed and outlined sustainability initiatives to align with corporate ESG goals.
• $7 Million in Identified Savings – Cost efficiencies through better sourcing, policy updates, and process improvements.
• 36-Month Strategic Roadmap – A structured, phased approach to implementation, ensuring smooth execution and long-term success.