The success of an innovative scheme which sees national palletised freight carrier Pall-Ex support the stationery suppliers to supermarket chain ASDA means that it could be rolled out across other sections of the store. In September last year, ASDA named Pall-Ex as a nominated carrier, with the multi-award-winning Pall-Ex given the role of collecting freight from the chains UK stationery vendors.
Pall-Ex then consolidates the goods at its central hub in Leicestershire before delivering it to ASDAs own distribution centre in Doncaster, ready for forwarding to individual stores as ready made-up stationery consignments. The scheme has presented a number of benefits to ASDA, including a reduction in congestion at its own distribution centre, increased efficiency due to less work required at the ASDA hub and less lorries on the road leading to reduced carbon footprint.
And because the initiative has been so successful, particularly with Pall-Exs next-day collection and delivery promise, ASDA is examining other areas where it could be used, such as childrens toys. Lee Hodgkin, Primary Operations Manager for ASDA, commented: When we began the relationship with Pall-Ex, we knew we required an offering that delivered on service, produced savings and improved our stores ability to carry stock. The scheme provided by Pall-Ex has done that successfully, in terms of financial and environmental benefits, and we are now actively examining how it can be replicated in other areas of the store.
Pall-Ex operates from its central hub in Leicestershire and unites just over 100 members in a network that can cover every UK postcode every day of the week. The collection and delivery service is an innovation from Pall-Ex, which prides itself on its ability to develop service offerings that enable it to stay at the forefront of the haulage industry.
Adrian Russell, Pall-Ex managing director, commented: ASDA is one of an increasing number of retailers who are turning to pallet networks as a cost effective method of outsourcing logistics. Pall-Ex has the geographical spread, the logistics knowhow and the desire to provide excellent customer service so that its clients have the tools they need in order to be successful. Pall-Ex works with a number of different retailers and leading clothing and leisure stores. With one retailer, Pall-Ex delivers goods to the door of each of its 300 high street outlets, unwrapping the freight and then decanting and carrying it into storerooms and recycling the packaging.
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