Salt Lake City - International Paper will consolidate its xpedx, Western Paper Company and Zellerbach operations in Salt Lake City, Utah, under the xpedx brand effective April 4, 2011.
 
Western Paper provides paper, graphic supplies, equipment and services to printers in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming. It has operated in Salt Lake City for more than 100 years, the last 26 years from its facility at 2700 South 600 West.
 
xpedx acquired Western Paper Company in 1992, and in 1998, acquired Zellerbach, which also distributes paper, as well as packaging and facility supplies and equipment. Zellerbach began operating in Salt Lake City in 1916 and is currently located at 2255 South 300 East.
 
In 1911, Dixon Paper Company began operations in Salt Lake City. It was acquired by xpedx in 1990 and today, xpedx is one of the largest business-to-business distributors in North America. Customers include printers, manufacturers, retailers and other commercial facilities.
 
International Paper made the decision to consolidate the locations after a thorough analysis of the commercial printing, packaging, and janitorial industries in these service areas. According to Paul Dickamore, general manager, xpedx Salt Lake City, the company determined that its best strategy for business success is to take full advantage of xpedx's consistent national brand to increase awareness of all products and services while making them available to all customers.
 
"Each of these brands has performed well and we respect the history, brand strength, and customer relationships that Western and Zellerbach have built in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming," Dickamore said. "This is a strategic decision that will provide many benefits to our customers, our suppliers, and our enterprise."
 
According to Dickamore, those include a single point of contact for sales and customer service, an enhanced product portfolio and overall, a streamlined supply chain.
 
Customers will now have access to broader, deeper inventories of paper, graphics, packaging and facility supplies; increased equipment options and technical support; leveraged buying power and enhanced ability to meet truck minimums; and the collected expertise from three respected brands under the same roof.
 
Sales and customer service employees from Western Paper Company and Zellerbach will move to the current xpedx facility at 3700 West 1987 South on April 4. Warehouse and delivery personnel will remain in all three locations until August when construction finishes on a 277,000-square-foot xpedx distribution facility that will provide logistic efficiencies and improved service to customers. The new facility will be equipped with RedPrairie, an RF-enabled warehouse management system, and other state-of-the-art data and communications capabilities. All employees will move to the new location upon its completion.