Conagra saves millions yearly by streamlining network connectivity with reliable internet
Moving off MPLS to dedicated internet and SD-WAN saved Conagra $2M a year and doubled the speed of new site turn-ups.
Every minute of downtime in food manufacturing means lost product, wasted resources, and revenue at risk. For Conagra Brands, a $12 billion food industry powerhouse, network failures don't just interrupt the flow of data, they can lead to costly shutdowns in production lines.
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands is an industry-leading food company that generates billions in annual revenue. With a diverse portfolio of iconic food brands that can be found in nearly every American household, Conagra maintains operations across 82 locations worldwide, including multiple manufacturing plants, offices, and two headquarters in Omaha and Chicago.
The company's success depends on reliable network connectivity between its data centers and manufacturing plants. When production lines can't communicate with central systems, the consequences are severe, potentially resulting in wasted food, lost revenue, and costly production delays.
With 82 locations worldwide, Conagra's plants were maxing out their bandwidth while battling unreliable connectivity that impacted their manufacturing capacity and bottom line.
Discover how Conagra's partnership with Momentum eliminated these production barriers, saving over a million in network costs while delivering the fast, reliable connectivity that keeps food moving from production lines to American households without missing a beat.
Plants outgrowing an expensive, low-bandwidth network
Conagra's network consisted of expensive, low-bandwidth MPLS circuits and costly internet backup circuits. This setup resulted in several critical challenges.
These connectivity constraints weren't just IT issues. They directly impacted Conagra's ability to manufacture products efficiently.
High-capacity internet and SD-WAN, deployed in half the time
Conagra needed a more responsive, cost-effective solution that could scale with their business needs. Having worked with Momentum in a previous role, Network Engineering Manager Mike McMillin knew they could deliver the service level Conagra required. After careful evaluation, Conagra partnered with Momentum to:
Momentum's ability to deploy new circuits in half the time of previous providers was a significant advantage as Conagra continued to expand operations and add new sites.
Plants that previously struggled with limited connectivity now have all the bandwidth needed to operate efficiently, with network availability increasing dramatically. Paired with SD-WAN appliances for automatic failover, if one circuit fails there is no impact on the plants.
Momentum now handles 50% of Conagra's connectivity needs across locations in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The cost savings have been remarkable. We're saving $2 million a year after moving away from MPLS and our previous internet circuit. But what's even more valuable is the reliability and increased bandwidth. Our plants used to starve for bandwidth, but now they can run at full production unhindered, which has increased productivity tremendously.
By porting approximately 180 toll-free numbers to Momentum, Conagra reduced monthly expenses from $40,000 to $12,000, a 70% saving on toll-free calling costs.
Success means plants making food without interruption. If lines get shut down due to connectivity issues, we risk throwing away massive quantities of food and losing significant revenue. With Momentum, our availability has gone up across the board, and everything is more stable. That's the real value of this partnership.
Reliable, cost-effective connectivity wherever you need it
Looking to upgrade your network infrastructure while reducing operational costs? See how Momentum can help you implement reliable, scalable connectivity that supports your growth.
