Warehouse - United Kingdom Warehousing Association

8 Business NewsINBRIEFClipper’s Super dealSuperGroup, the companythat owns theSuperdry brand, hasentered a long termagreement with ClipperLogistics and investedin a new distributioncentre in Burton-on-Trent, as part of itsinfrastructure investment.The agreementwill see Clipper providefulfilment for thegroup’s retail activitiesfrom the 500,000 sq ftmulti-channel facility.The centre is set to bein full operationtowards the end offinancial year 2014.Ports brandPD Ports has launcheda new brand aiming tohighlight the group’sport centric logisticscapabilities, PDPortcentric Logistics.Business developmentdirector of PD PortsGroup, Geoff Lippitt,said: “Portcentric logisticshas very real commercialand environmentalbenefits. Everyyear, in total, our customerssave millions ofpounds in supply chaincosts, road miles andsignificantly reducetheir carbon emissions.”PROPERTYBibby Distribution landmajor ambient food contractBibby Distribution hasopened a new 212,000sq ft warehouse and distributionfacility and takenon more than 100 additionalstaff in Corby aftersecuring a major contractwith Japanese food manufacturerMizkan.The Corby facility willsupport an initial threeyear contract with Mizkan,secured following a competitivetender which sawBibby Distribution selectedfor its competitiveness andproven grocery sectorexpertise.The 30,000 palletcapacitysite will supportthe customer following itsacquisition of a series offamous UK brands during2012 and 2013, includingSarson’s vinegar,Haywards pickled vegetablesand Branston picklefrom Premier Foods.Under the new agreementBibby Distributionwill manage the completeUK warehousing and distributionrequirements forthe Sarson’s, Haywardsand Branston brands.Corby was identified asthe optimum locationbetween the different productionpoints of thebrands and their outboundcustomer base.This has minimisedinbound and outboundroad miles, lead-timesand associated costs.The fleet will also trunkambient products intoCorby from the Sarson’sand Haywards productionplant in Middleton andthe Branston facility inBury St Edmunds.Commenting on thenew agreement, PaulShanahan, MD atMizkan’s UK business,says: “Our acquisitionswere carefully selected toprovide a platform to supportour future growthambition in the UK whiledelivering a strategic fitwith our global portfolio.We are building a solidfoundation for growth inthe UK market and weneeded a third partylogistics provider (3PL) topartner us.There is noshortage of 3PLs withwarehouses and trucks,but we wanted a supplierwith extensive experienceserving the grocery market.”Bibby Distribution hascommenced deliveries ofinbound product and willmaintain a 20,000 palletstock-holding for Mizkanin Corby. It will begindelivering an estimated114,000 pallets annuallyto retailers nationwidefrom July onwards and issupporting the contractwith 15 new trucks and25 trailers which will enterservice in the comingweeks.Mark Wilson, aDivisional Director atBibby Distribution,explains: “Our softwareplatform is key to deliveringfor Mizkan. It tieseverything we do together,from monitoring stock levelsto helping the customerimprove its route tomarket.“From the outset we’vebeen able to wrap ourselvesaround Mizkan’srequirements to deliver asolution which has theflexibility to grow withthem. It’s this approachand our proven ability inthis sector that’s securedthe contract. We look forwardto helping themdeliver these leading foodbrands into the marketplace.”May 2013www.ukwa.org.uk