JF Hillebrand and Waitrose strengthen their partnership with new long-term contract

JF Hillebrand, the specialist logistics provider to the global beverage market, has been awarded a new contract to manage all wine imports for Waitrose.  The new three year contract builds upon a pre-existing relationship the two companies have successfully maintained and developed for more than 10 years.  JF Hillebrand is now the strategic solus partner for Waitrose and will provide full Supply Chain Management solutions for its global import trade lanes.

The decision by Waitrose to extend the use of JF Hillebrand's Supply Chain Management solution to cover the entire business follows the successful implementation across a selection of trade lanes over the last four years. Andrew Shaw, Buying Manager (Wines), Waitrose said:  "The JF Hillebrand solution will result in a responsive and robust supply chain which will reduce  our stockholding  - a critical factor in enabling our network to absorb the tremendous business growth we have planned for the future. By entering this agreement we have established a mutually beneficial partnership with our suppliers and JF Hillebrand and look forward to further developing this in coming years.
 
David Mawer, Managing Director of JF Hillebrand UK, says: "These are really exciting times for our joint businesses. We are extremely proud to be appointed as Waitrose's solus partner and are very much looking forward to this next stage of growth and development of Waitrose's global wine beverage supply chain."
 
The two companies will be working in even closer collaboration alongside all the supply chain stakeholders to further develop the best possible system of collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment.  This will ensure a greater variety of choice, better availability, shorter lead times, and lower inventory all at reduced costs.