S2K Graphics and IMS Local create merchandising alliance

S2K Graphics, an affiliate of the Franke Group, and IMS Local, an Omnicom company, have formed a merchandising alliance to deliver expanded regional promotional solutions to McDonald’s USA. S2K Graphics and IMS Local are currently the two largest regional merchandising suppliers in the McDonald’s system. The new alliance will begin serving McDonald’s jointly on Jan. 31, 2018. Established in response to McDonald’s long-term business goals, the alliance’s charter has been endorsed by McDonald’s Strategic Sourcing, Retail Experience and Field Marketing leadership. The alliance will improve efficiency by consolidating versioned promotional graphics across 56 regional co-ops for a cost savings of up to 50 percent. The alliance also leverages nationwide co-packing opportunities to reduce shipping costs and spreads production and distribution across five combined facilities to speed service to market. In addition to standard merchandising elements, the alliance will offer a single point of contact for all products and services as well as a nationwide field-service team to assist with restaurant profiles, schematics, installations and training. “We couldn’t have picked a better alliance partner than S2K Graphics,” said Ken Fill, vice president of IMS Local. “Their innovation, print quality and fast turnaround times are well-known within the McDonald’s system and perfectly complement our distribution strengths and back-of-house service offering.” Dan Pulos, S2K Graphics’ general manager and founder, said, “We’re excited to have IMS Local’s digital file competencies, branded merchandise products and prodigious distribution skills on board. Combined, we’re able to substantially elevate our service offering in direct support of McDonald’s long-term merchandising objectives.” For more information about S2K Graphics, visit http://www.s2kgraphics.com. For more information about IMS Local, visit http://www.imsfastpak.com. ABOUT S2K GRAPHICS S2K Graphics, an affiliate of Franke Group, was founded in 1989 as a one-person sign shop and grew with an uncommon focus on client service, print quality, teamwork and innovation. Today, S2K Graphics is a nationally recognized leader in point-of-purchase (P.O.P.) execution services, designing, manufacturing and distributing a broad array of innovative, disruptive, color-matched P.O.P. elements. To learn more about S2K Graphics, visit http://www.s2kgraphics.com.