URBN appoints Allport Cargo Services to support its growing business as Global Supply Chain Partner

URBN is a portfolio of global consumer brands offering a variety of lifestyle products to a defined customer base.

UBRN offers creative product propositions and engaging shopping experiences. Since the first store was opened in 1970, the group has grown significantly. Today, URBN retails through over 600 stores in Europe, United States and Canada, as well as through online channels.

The partnership between ACS and URBN's brands Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People in the UK comes at a crucial time to support their continuous growth. The collaboration is founded on ACS' capability to innovate and drive business efficiency through process optimisation and governance.

URBN has a complex supply chain, sourcing from a large number of vendors in multiple global locations. Through the implementation of tailored programmes, ACS will remove complexity and increase operational efficiency, enabling URBN to concentrate on their core business and growth. ACS initiatives, amongst others, include origin port rationalisation, multi country consolidation, equipment selection and LCL reduction programmes.

ACS' Technology-enabled Supply Chain management system LIMA, complements these initiatives. LIMA is tailor made to retail. LIMA's functionalities will facilitate vendor and supply chain stakeholder management, afford Business Intelligence Analytics and provide URBN with the desired end to end visibility and control over their supply chain.

Iain Bartholomew, Director of Logistics at URBN, said "ACS' proposition provides URBN with the required competencies to support the continuous growth of URBN business. LIMA will provide UBRN with full visibility of our supply chain, as well as business intelligence, enabling effective vendor and order management."

Clyde Buntrock, Vice President at Allport Cargo Services, said: "Our collaboration with URBN is an example of how ACS' expertise and unique proposition are appealing to our retail customer. As well as our full freight service provision we are excited that URBN join the growing list of brands that deploy our proprietary LIMA software to control their supply chain. Two key modules of note that are being deployed are our latest dynamic distribution booking diary and the latest version of LIMA's vendor portal, driving supply chain visibility and control ever further upstream. We look forward to go live in June and to building a long lasting partnership with URBN."