H.J. Heinz Company Implements Sterling Commerce Solutions for "Game Changing" Logistics Operations

SAN ANTONIO, TX, Apr 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
Sterling Commerce Customer Connection -- At its customer conference,
Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) company, today announced that
H.J. Heinz Company (Heinz) has transformed its logistics operations with
Sterling Commerce business integration and supply chain execution
applications. Heinz now manages its complex logistics network of more
than 1,200 unique suppliers shipping to more than 20 U.S. plant locations
and then on to hundreds of customers from end-to-end. With this
transformation, Heinz now utilizes its carriers more efficiently, gets
full real-time visibility into associated costs and physical movements,
improves service to its plants, and serves as a better supply chain
partner to its suppliers and customers.

Heinz, one of the world's leading marketers and producers of healthy,
convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals,
soups, snacks and infant nutrition, has implemented components of Sterling
Business Integration Suite and Sterling Transportation Management System
(TMS) from Sterling Selling and Fulfillment Suite as the foundation for
its world-class logistics operations implementation. In 2006, its inbound
logistics operations were managed by Heinz' suppliers and carriers.
However, Heinz had a vision that by taking control of those operations,
the company could gain synergies between its raw goods and finished goods
sides of the business. The company recently implemented the freight
payment module of Sterling TMS, a final step that completes the
end-to-end process by automating the freight invoicing and payment
processes with its carriers.

"Gaining control over our inbound logistics has been 'game changing' for
Heinz. Connectivity was key. We started to gain a clearer view into the
way our network works, and saw the easiest and greatest opportunities for
making the network more efficient with minimal service interruption," said
David White, manager, dry warehousing, for Heinz. "From there, Sterling
TMS provided us with complete control over our inbound freight, enabling
us to take advantage of cost-savings opportunities more efficiently."

It was Heinz' vision to have a single system manage all the company's
logistics operations -- from order through fulfillment -- involving more
than 1,200 unique suppliers shipping to more than 20 U.S. plant locations
and then on to hundreds of customers. The company started with two
components of Sterling Business Integration Suite -- Sterling Integrator
(formerly Gentran Integration Suite), a flexible integration solution,
and Sterling Collaboration Network, the company's hosted service that
provides secure connectivity and collaboration between businesses -- to
gain connectivity between Heinz and its business partners. The company
then implemented Sterling TMS, the world's largest on-demand
transportation management solution, for its freight payment, auditing,
and claims management functions provided in a manage-by-exception
environment.

"We needed to manage our transportation operations by exception. A network
the size of Heinz is almost impossible to manage any other way," adds
White. With the new systems, Heinz has been able to decrease planned
downtime by more than 80 percent and increase efficiency gains for
on-boarding trading partners and administering the system by more than 30
percent.

"Heinz demonstrates the value manufacturers can achieve by optimizing
their business collaboration network," said Richard Douglass, global
manufacturing industry executive, Sterling Commerce. "By streamlining
their inbound logistics process with Sterling Commerce integration
solutions and applications, Heinz is better prepared to minimize costs,
inventory and achieve perfect orders."

About Sterling Commerce

Sterling Commerce, an AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) company, helps companies optimize
and transform their Business Collaboration Network to accelerate revenues
and reduce costs. More than 30,000 customers worldwide use Sterling
Commerce applications and integration solutions to connect, communicate
and collaborate inside and outside their enterprise. Headquartered in
Columbus, Ohio, Sterling Commerce has offices in 24 countries. More
information can be found at www.sterlingcommerce.com.

For more information, contact:

Julie Redard
Sterling Commerce
(978) 513-6386
Julie_Redard@stercomm.com

Jamie Leicht
Fleishman-Hillard
(619) 237-7711
jamiemarie.leicht@fleishman.com

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