News

2nd February
Companies not yet making significant emission cuts across supply chains

Multi-national companies are not yet demonstrating significant emissions reductions in their supply chains, according to research published today by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and Accenture.

The report on 49 CDP member companies, including L’Oréal, Philips and Walmart, and more than 1,800 of their suppliers showed that while 43 per cent of responding companies had achieved year-on-year emissions reductions, only 28 per cent of suppliers had done so.

It said that 39 per cent of responding companies had realised monetary savings from their own emissions reductions activities and over a third (34.5 per cent) had benefited from new revenue streams or financial savings as a result of their suppliers’ carbon reduction activities.

Extreme weather events disrupted 30 per cent of responding companies’ supply chains in the past year alone and more than half (53 per cent) of the suppliers identified certain or likely exposure to increased operational costs as a direct result of climate change, compounding the need for greater action to reduce emissions that occur beyond direct operations. These can account for as much as 86 per cent of a company’s carbon footprint.

The report showed a rise in the proportion of responding companies with climate change strategies that incorporate procurement guidelines (90 per cent, up from 74 per cent in 2009 and 79 per cent in 2010).

The proportion of responding companies that claim they will deselect suppliers who fail to meet formal environmental criteria within five years has more than doubled from 17 per cent in 2009 to 39 per cent in 2011.

Frances Way, programme director for CDP, said: “Such a large shift in companies’ procurement models is encouraging but since these trends are only now emerging, we are yet to see a transformational impact on suppliers’ emissions.”

This is the first year that CDP has scored suppliers on their carbon performance as well as disclosure. The scores, awarded by FirstCarbon Solutions, reflect the transparency of suppliers’ climate change strategies and their action to reduce carbon emissions. The results suggest that North American suppliers are likely to be superseded in capitalising on the opportunities of climate change. Asian and European suppliers received an average score of 52 and 53 for disclosure but North American suppliers scored just 45 of a possible 100. The pattern is reflected in performance scores where, on average, North American suppliers were placed in the D band while Asian and European suppliers achieved C bands.

31st January
City Link opens at Bournemouth Airport

A £2.6m depot purpose-built for delivery company City Link has been completed on the Aviation Business Park at Bournemouth Airport.

The 35,295 sq ft depot houses 100 staff and is set to handle 25,000 deliveries and 18,000 collections every week – covering across the region.

The completion of this project marks a total recent investment of more than £6m in Aviation Business Park by MAG Developments, the property development arm of the owner of Bournemouth Airport, Manchester Airports Group (MAG).

17th January
Palletways £750k scanning system a world first

Palletways, Europe’s largest and fastest-growing express palletised freight network, has developed a scanning system to photograph every pallet on its journey through its UK hub in Lichfield.
In conjunction with specialist suppliers, Palletways designed and installed the world’s first “archway” hub scanning system to provide full visibility of vehicle and pallet movements.

The company said the system “virtually eliminates missing pallets, damage, theft and security issues, and the possibility of false claims for loss or damage of goods”.

At the entrance and exit of each warehouse, eight banks of two vehicle scanners, 16 barcode label image scanners and two high-definition cameras are installed. Both vehicle sides are covered, allowing every pallet to be recorded as it enters, goes through and leaves the site.

Martyn Young, Palletways UK MD, said: “We handle up to 20,000 pallets a day in the UK alone, so it’s imperative we have total control and security for every pallet.

“Our new system allows us to do this more effectively, while maximising efficiency by reducing the handling time for each pallet and every load.

“We’re now looking to extend it across our member network and throughout our hubs in Europe.”

Palletways is made up of 300 depots and 10 hub operations, through which it provides collection and distribution services across 11 European countries.

16th January
Work starts on Co-op's £22m food DC

Work has started on The Co-operative’s £22m food distribution centre at South Normanton in northern Derbyshire.
The 477,000 sq ft facility at Clowes Developments’ Castlewood site will take over the work of two smaller Co-operative food depots in the region – in nearby Alfreton, Derby, and in Bulwell, Nottingham.

Mark Leonard, head of logistics service at The Co-operative Food, said: “The new distribution depot in Castlewood, South Normanton, will provide a major boost to the local economy and employment. It will not only create a significant number of new jobs locally, but its proximity to our existing depots in the area will allow many staff to transfer to the new site, safeguarding around 740 jobs in the region.

It is expected to be fully operational during 2013, when it will serve 529 stores throughout the region, covering Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. It will have the capacity to deliver around 68 million cases of groceries per year.

Construction work has started to clear the site ahead of laying foundations for the facility. The project is being managed by First Industrial, the industrial development company.

The new facility will employ around 1,080 staff. Around 460 people are employed at Alfreton and around 280 at Bulwell. It is anticipated that the majority of the positions at the new site will be filled by existing Co- staff transferring, but the new depot is expected to create at least 340 new jobs locally.

The facility will also incorporate several energy-saving and recycling initiatives, including rainwater harvesting to reduce water demand on site and waste oil burning systems for heat production. LED lighting will be installed to cut energy costs by some 60 per cent and help the site to achieve an “excellent” BREEAM accreditation rating, the internationally-recognised green building measurement.

11th January
HS2 must not distract from rail freight development

The government’s decision to push ahead with a high speed rail line to the Midlands and North West (HS2) got a welcome from the Rail Freight Group and a warning from the Freight Transport Association that it must not be allowed to distract from the needs of rail freight.

The RFG said the development of HS2 would provide significant new capacity, freeing up rail paths on the existing network. “

These paths are vital to enable more rail freight, particularly containers, to move between major UK conurbations. Here, container traffic has grown by 56 per cent in the last 8 years, and customers, particularly in the retail sector, are pressing the rail freight industry to take more of their goods by rail, for reliability, price and low carbon reasons.”

But Christopher Snelling, the FTA’s head of supply chain policy, warned: “While HS2 will yield only some indirect benefit to freight it most certainly shouldn’t be introduced at its expense, whether in terms of diverting funding away from other areas or by jeopardising existing freight paths.

“Rail freight demands a fair share of any capacity created by HS2 on the existing network. We must try to support what is not just a growing market, but one without which the UK’s emissions reduction targets would begin to look a lot less achievable.”
RFG chairman Tony Berkeley said: “We congratulate the Government in standing firm and announcing the go-ahead for this vital transport link. We urge it to press ahead with HS2 with the minimum of delay as a means, not only of delivering much needed capacity on this corridor, but of making a major contribution to reducing the carbon emissions from road freight transport that is can unlock.”

Source: Logistics Manager

10th January
Industry big guns line up for Logistics Link

More of the industry’s biggest names have signed up to exhibit at Logistics Link South, taking place again at Sandown Park, Esher, 21-22 February.

Confirmed exhibitors include industry leaders such as Chess Logistics, Belgravium, Crown Lift Trucks, Dexion, Narrow Aisle, Jungheinrich, Knapp, Toyota and Translift.

The industry seminar programme sponsored by Kronos workforce management systems includes speakers from blue-chip end users such as Unipart Logistics, Jaguar Land Rover and TJX (TK Maxx) – revealing the most successful strategies and innovations in the most competitive sectors.

Logistics Link South provides a unique opportunity for logistics executives to see the latest developments in every aspect of logistics and supply chain management with fast and easy access from London and the Home Counties. In just a few hours out of a normal working day visitors will be able to review the latest in logistics technologies, solutions and products, providing the ideal platform to select the tools needed to run a productive, cost-efficient warehouse and distribution operation.

The Buyer Networking Lounge will provide plenty of opportunities for visitors to sit down, mingle and exchange ideas and challenges with their peers and colleagues.

For further information and to register for free tickets, go to www.logisticslink.co.uk

Source : Logistics Manager

9th November
Marks & Spencer moves to boost supply chain efficiency

Marks & Spencer has been improving the efficiency of its supply chain to reduce the proportion of international products shipped via the UK, with over 30 per cent of stock now moving direct to its destination through four regional hubs in Sri Lanka, China, Istanbul and Singapore.

The move reflects the group's strategy to become a major international multi-channel retailer.

In the UK, it said construction was under way at its new national distribution centre and e-commerce facility in the East Midlands which is on course to open in early 2013.

It has now completed the implementation of a new stock management system, which is providing more accurate real-time stock level information and contributing to improvement in food availability.

It has also completed the roll out of the new Point of Sale System, and is now in the final phase of the SAP roll-out which will go live from April 2012. This will include a new stock ledger, which will provide improved management information including product level profitability.

In its half year results, M&S reported a 2.4 per cent rise in sales to £4.7bn but underlying operating profit was down 9.8 per cent to £369m.

Chief executive Marc Bolland "In an increasingly promotional environment, we managed costs tightly and took a decision to invest in giving our customers better value, choosing not to pass on the full extent of the increases in commodity prices. "Against a challenging consumer backdrop, we took decisive action to manage the business through the short term while continuing our focus on investing in creating a stronger platform for future growth."

For the full year the group expects gross margin is expected to be broadly flat on last year due to ongoing input cost inflation and an increasingly promotional market.

Operating costs are expected to increase by about 3 per cent as a result of increased depreciation, space growth and inflation, as well as investment in growth initiatives, offset by underlying savings.

On Plan A, the eco and ethical programme, M&S said it had achieve 105 of the 180 commitments that it had set and a further 18 were on course to be completed by April.

Source: Logistics Manager

8th November
City Link losses rise in third quarter

City Link has reported higher losses in the third quarter as a result of lower volumes and price competition. The operating loss of £6.8m was £5.5m worse than 2010 on a £6.4m (7.9 per cent) reduction in revenue.

However, it expects sales to pick up in the next quarter and into 2012.

Parent group Rentokil Initial said that throughout 2011 the business had been affected by lower volumes arising from customer losses in 2010.

"Third quarter volumes declined 5.5 per cent year on year. Price cutting continues to be an ongoing market dynamic and revenue per consignment declined by 3.5 per cent.

"While the market remains extremely competitive, we are particularly encouraged by the strength of the new business pipeline (well in excess of £50m) and by the conversion of approximately £25m of leads into new customers."

Sales for the first nine months were down 11.7 per cent to £218.9m while the operating loss rose from £6m to £24.6m.

Rentokil Initial said revenue projections for City Link had improved significantly for the fourth quarter and 2012.

"We anticipate the financial performance of the business will also improve in Q4, assuming no repetition of the very unusual weather conditions in Q4 2010. In addition, the new business pipeline for 2012 is very strong. More progress is however required on productivity."

Source: Logistics Manager

7th November
Margins increase at home delivery specialist

Home delivery specialist Hermes says it has increase profit margins over the past year to give a profit of £17.5m for the financial year 2010-11.

Sales were up six per cent at £211.5m, and the operator is looking for 20 per cent growth in the coming year.

Hermes chief Carole Woodhead said: "Throughout these challenging economic times Hermes has continued to buck the trend and has invested wisely in the right technology and people to support new services that retailers and their customers want. As a result our new business pipeline remains robust."

Source: Hermes

4th November
Yodel launches international services

Parcel carrier Yodel has launched a series of international delivery services in partnership with KMUK Universal Solutions, bpost (Belgium Post) International and the international parcel unit of TNT Post.

Yodel World Mail is a non-time critical service under two kilos to anywhere in the world within 14 days. Partner for the service is KMUK Universal Solutions.

It has formed a partnership with bpost international to offer Yodel World Pack and Yodel World parcel both of which offer tracking. The first service is for packages up to two kilos while the parcel service will take parcels up to 30 kilos.

The fourth service, Yodel Euro Express Home, is designed for e-commerce consumer deliveries throughout the EU. It is working with the international parcel unit of TNT Post and can handle parcels up to 30 kilos.

Yodel chief Jonathan Smith said: "This move takes Yodel into a new, global market, expanding our portfolio to meet our clients' and their customers' demands. Yodel World allows us to provide an efficient and tailored international delivery service that use unrivalled delivery resources."

* Last month Yodel set out plans to close 45 depots to create single operating network. The company was formed in March last year following the takeover of the DHL domestic network by Home Delivery Network. Since then it has been running two operation networks.

Source: Yodel

3rd November
DPD web site for phones

Parcel delivery firm DPD has launched a web site designed to be accessed via mobile phones, allowing customers to track packages and re-arrange deliveries on the move.

DPD has found that 15 per cent of its customers already access its website via their mobile phones, and that this number is increasing monthly.

Chief executive Dwain McDonald, said: "As a business, it's vital to respond to the changing face of customer contact. In today's busy, mobile society, customers expect fast answers at any time and from any where.

"Our experience monitors the latest findings from the Office of National Statistics which shows an explosion in mobile phone internet access – from 8.5million UK users in 2009 to 17.6million this year."

Source: DPD

3rd November
Norbert wins coffin transport contract

Coffin maker Bradnam Joinery has appointed Norbert Dentressangle to handle its deliveries in Scotland.

Bradnam is based in Suffolk and has a fleet of eight vehicles for deliveries. After increasing volumes of business it has taken on Norbert Dentressangle to deliver products north of the border using its shared-user pallet network.

Norbert Dentressangle's shipment handling and reporting program allows Bradnam to place orders electronically, which are received and processed in real time. A proof of delivery is also issued to track deliveries.

Source: Norbert Dentressangle

2nd November
Telefónica UK saves £9m with extended DHL deal

Telefónica UK has extended its partnership with DHL Supply Chain to include claim assessment, diagnostics and repair services to O2 Insure, the division responsible for insurance products under the O2 brand.

The new approach is expected to deliver savings of £9 million per year.

DHL Supply Chain's in-house service uses warehouse stock to fulfil accepted insurance claims, backfilling the inventory once replacements from the manufacturer have been received. This reduces the turnaround time for completing the customer's claim by days, as they no longer need to wait for the replacement to be sent from the manufacturer.

With a collect-and-inspect service, the number of invalid claims has been reduced and the end user now has a choice of collection and delivery options with automatic updates by text, e-mail and letter to keep them informed at all stages throughout the claims process.

James Carpenter, head of O2 Insure, said: "The new claim assessment and repair solution has given longevity to, and increased the competitiveness of, O2 Insure's product offering within the market."

DHL has been part of the Telefónica UK Supply Chain organisation for the past ten years and recently signed a contract extension that takes the partnership through to 2014.

Source: DHL Supply Chain

1st November
Ryvita contract for Bibby

Ryvita has awarded its UK transport contract to Bibby Distribution.

Bibby will run the transport operation using a shared user vehicle fleet, managed from a 140,000 sq ft facility in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire which is also the hub of warehousing and transport activities for sister company Jordans.

In May 2010 Bibby bought Taygroup which was running logistics operations for cereal manufacturer Jordans.

Paul Jaggard, head of supply chain for the Jordans & Ryvita Company, said: "The baton was passed seamlessly between Taygroup and Bibby and this has ultimately given us the confidence to develop the relationship further.

"Since the merger of the Jordans and Ryvita brands, the demands we make of suppliers have inevitably grown; it is important to work with suppliers that will face these requirements head-on and work alongside us to achieve further operational improvements."

Source: Logistics Manager

31st October
DHL sponsors Volvo ocean race

DHL is the official logistics partner of the 11th Volvo Ocean Race, a round-the world yacht race starting in Alicante, Spain, on 29th October.

The 3PL will be responsible for air, sea, and land transport of all equipment for the competitors. It will use 152 shipping containers to move hundreds of tons of materials from the starting point in Spain to the finish in Galway, Ireland.

DHL will manoeuvre two identical sets of 40ft ocean freight containers for each team according to the leapfrog principle. Each set includes all gear for stopover repairs and maintenance, such as loft hand tools, lifejacket kits and rig lifting slings.

The teams use the content of the first container during the first leg while DHL delivers the second container to the next destination. As the teams take over the second container at the next leg, DHL prepares the previously used first container for the next stopover.

Reinier Vens, DHL project director for the race, said: "Our proceedings will be monitored from an international control centre especially established for the race. We ensure the smooth procedure of the race by supplying the race organisers, race teams, and partners with the full range of freight forwarding and venue logistics services."

In addition to the ocean freight containers, DHL provides each team with a number of air cargo containers, for emergency use.

DHL will also provide haulage of pavilions for visitors to the ten race villages, as well as managing the short-term supply of spare parts, via a specially established spare parts depot at the airport in Amsterdam.

Source: Logistics Manager

28th October
Collect+ connects to web courier

Web based courier service myParcelDelivery.com is working with Collect+ so that its customers can access its services via the Collect+ network of local stores.

Collect+ offers deliveries throughout the UK and Northern Ireland via Yodel and participating shops within the PayPoint network.

David Grimes, co-founder of myParcelDelivery.com said: "Thanks to our partnership with Collect+, we can now provide our customers with the option to drop-off their parcels at over 4,000 participating convenience stores, which means an end to waiting indoors for a collection."

Source: Logistics Manager

25th October
Kingfisher extends Yusen contract

Kingfisher, parent of B&Q and Screwfix, has extended its contract with Yusen Logistics, to manage its European supply chain, making deliveries to operations across the UK, France and Poland.

The contract includes additional pick up from locations in South East Asia and Europe, as well as the existing contract's origin points in North and South China.

The contract also covers inbound logistics management, carrier management for sea-freight consignments, documentation management and logistics support.

Kingfisher has nearly 900 stores in eight countries in Europe and Asia operating under a series of brands including B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot, and Screwfix.

Alex Okamoto, managing director of Yusen Logistics Europe, said: "With international supply chains becoming increasingly complex, we are confident that our flexibility and the total-visibility of our tracking systems are of great value to our customers. We are delighted to secure this contract extension and are keen to continue developing our relationship with Kingfisher in the future."

Source: Logistics Manager

24th October
Wincanton provides the water for Snow White

Wincanton has been providing truckloads of water for the cast and crew of a new Hollywood film, Snow White and the Huntsman, during filming at Marloes Sands near Milford Haven.

The film is described as a dark take on the traditional folk-tale and stars Twilight actress Kristen Stewart and oscar-winner Charlize Theron.

"For the last few years we have built a reputation as the leading water provider to outdoor events," said Claire Charlton, business development manager at Wincanton.

Wincanton had to use a smaller tanker than normal to get water to get around the fim set at the remote coastline location. And a driver had to be based near the filming location to respond to changes in demand.

"The water we deliver will obviously be there for the welfare of the crew but, just as importantly, several of the scenes involve huge running battles with up to 50 riders on horseback, so all of those horses will need access to fresh clean water throughout the production," said Charlton.

Wincanton also provided water for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood film, which was also shot in Pembrokeshire.

Source: Logistics Manager

21st October
DHL speciality foods service

DHL Global Forwarding has launched a temperature controlled services moving small quantities of speciality foods from Europe to markets around the world.

"The demand for European specialities and exclusive products is constantly increasing all over the world. Therefore, we have combined our expertise in temperature-controlled goods with a new customised solution," said Bernhard Stade, vice president ocean freight management Germany at DHL Global Forwarding.

To make sure that chocolate and pastries from Europe arrive in best quality in Asia, a consistent cold chain with temperatures between 12 and 17 degrees Celsius is necessary.

Every week, the goods are transported by ocean freight from Hamburg to Singapore, to be further distributed from there.

Source: DHL

20th October
Profits rise at APC

Parcel carrier APC Overnight produced a pre-tax profit of £3.4 million for the 2010-2011 – up from £2m the year before. Sales were up ten per cent to £58 million.

Managing director Ivor Skinner said: "Despite the continuing faltering of the UK economy in general we are seeing good growth and our customers also appear to be bucking the trend. Each of our depots has worked hard to sell and demonstrate the benefit of using APC to their customers and this is paying off with the continual growth we see across the network. Our turnover has grown and we have achieved over 25 per cent growth in gross profit."

APC expects to start work soon on 128,000 sq ft hub in the Midlands which will have more than double the capacity of the existing site in Essington.

Source: APC Overnight

20th October
Ford picks DHL for spares distribution

Ford has signed an agreement with DHL Supply Chain for distribution of spare parts in the Nordic region and the Baltic states.

DHL will handle about 23,000 different spare parts from its distribution centre at Örebro in central Sweden.

Stock orders are shipped the next day or the day after. Emergency orders are shipped overnight or the next morning. Some of the Ford workshops in the Stockholm area use the Örebro warehouse as a local distribution centre, which is a further development of the agreement.

"From experience, we know that DHL can fulfil our requirements of fast and reliable transports to our Ford dealers and workshops, which is essential for us," said Klaus Heinen, European purchasing manager at Ford.

Source: Logistics Manager

19th October
DHL targets fashion SMEs with business expansion service

DHL Express is targeting the fashion sector with a new consultative-style service for new businesses.

It is set to launch a business advice service, offering guidelines for international expansion and guidance on regulations and customs, as well as particular trading rules for individual countries.

DHL commissioned IFF Research to survey UK fashion businesses, especially SMEs. It found that 65 per cent expect to see overseas sales figures double in the next two years. However 68 per cent said they would be unable to enact any expansion plans to meet this demand over the next two years.

The business expansion platform will be offered in collaboration with the British Chambers of Commerce, Business Link, Institute of Export, and UK Trade and Investment.

Source: DHL

18th October
Net earnings rise at K+N

Kuehne + Nagel managed to increase net earnings by 1.1 per cent CHF 454m for the first for the first nine months despite a fall in sales.

EBITDA was down 2.4 per cent at CHF 728m while turnover was down 3.8 per cent to CHF14.6bn.

Chief executive Reinhard Lange said: "Considering the softening market growth, we are satisfied with our results in the first nine months of 2011. Volatility is high and the fourth quarter is expected to remain demanding."

In Contract Logistics, EBITDA margin fell from 4.1 per cent to 3.7 per cent while net invoiced turnover declined by 5.7 per cent.

The group said focal point of the business unit's strategy had been the expansion of services for multinational customers and the consolidation at strategic logistics hubs. Furthermore, the integration of contract logistics services into end-to-end solutions has been an integral part of the strategic approach. The challenging market conditions in France led to margin pressure, restructuring measures and a negative impact on results.

However, there was a strong performance in Seafreight where volume was up by 11.4 per cent out-performing global container market growth.

"Despite slightly lower margins due to very low freight rates in the third quarter of 2011, EBITDA-to-gross profit margin stabilised at 35.3 per cent on a very high level (previous year: 35.8 per cent) in the first nine months of 2011. The operational result remained at the previous year's level."

And in Airfreight, Kuehne + Nagel increased its tonnage by 14.5 per cent in the first nine months, although growth in the international airfreight market slowed down in the last months.

As a result, EBITDA-to-gross profit margin increased from 30.5 per cent in 2010 to 32.3 per cent in 2011. EBITDA was improved by 13.1 per cent.

Road & Rail Logistics saw 4.9 per cent growth in net turnover, however EBITDA margin decreased from 1.7 to 1.4 per cent.

Source: Kuehne & Nagel

17th October
250 teardrops for DHL

DHL Supply Chain is investing £5.5 million in 250 teardrop trailers.

The pillarless 13.7m curtainsiders are being supplied by Don Bur. the streamlined roof is designed to eliminate excess drag caused by the tractor-trailer gap. As a result, the new design is expected to produce an annual five per cent fuel saving.

David McDonald, VP Operations at DHL Consumer Division, said: "Not only do they look striking but they feature a range of innovative safety features which should have a significant impact on our CO2 reductions. The new trailers are also equipped with live tracking, ensuring that we deliver maximum efficiency and flexibility for our customers."

Source: Logistics Manager

14th September
TAS Transport moves to Palletline

Heathrow-based TAS Transport has joined the Palletline network. Managing director Terry Stevens said: "Although we have been part of a pallet network for four years, we are making the move to Palletline because we believe this is the network most focused on the real needs of the end user."

TAS operates 50 vehicles from a 20,000 sq ft distribution centre and has some 20 years experience in air freight road transport.

It has invested in six Mercedes 7.5 tonners and two Mercedes 18 tonners to manage the Palletline work.

Source: Logistics Manager

13th October
Tibbett extends contract at Europolis

Tibbett Logistics, part of the Keswick Enterprises, has signed a five-year contract to extend operations at the Europolis Park to the west of Bucharest in Romania.

Tibbett has operated from Europolis since 2008 and has now contracted operations there until mid-2016. The site comprises 22,000 sq metres of warehousing, with over 30,000 racked pallet positions.

It handles the delivery of over 1,400 pallets a day of imported products to 25 retail locations across Romania, plus 10,000 items of dry food and other FMCG merchandise daily – both held in stock and cross-docked.

Source: Logistics Manager

12th October
DHL expands innovation group

DHL Solutions & Innovations is expanding its site at Troisdorf, near Bonn.

It has just topped out its new Innovation Campus adjacent to the DHL Innovation Centre, and is promoting the opportunity to engage in research with its external innovation partners and subsidiaries under one roof.

Up to 220 employees can be housed in the two buildings which together form the Innovation Campus. When it comes into operation next spring some 80 employees from DSI and the subsidiary Agheera – DSI's first spin-out company – will initially begin work there, as well as around 20 partner employees.

Partner companies Motorola Solutions, 7id, infoware, Mojix, Zetes and the Fraunhofer-Institut für Fabrikbetrieb und -automatisierung have already signed up.

Further sections of the building are planned in a second phase of construction.

Source: DHL

12th October
K+N buys Drude to boost European network

Kuehne + Nagel has agreed to buy Drude Logistik which specialises hub operations for international groupage networks from a site at Hauneck / Bad Hersfeld, which is in the geographical centre of Germany.

From mid-2012, Kuehne + Nagel plans to operate daily lines to 50 European economic centres via this central platform.

Dirk Reich, executive vice president of Kuehne + Nagel International responsible for road and rail logistics said: "Through the acquisition of Drude Logistik we get access to a highly capable hub operation for our international groupage activities. Drude Logistik fully meets our requirements regarding expertise, geographical position and infrastructure.

"Acting as our new Eurohub, it enables us to increase the number of departures, reduce lead times and achieve a better capacity utilisation due to a consistent consolidation and overnight transhipment operations. As a result, all Kuehne + Nagel locations linked to the Eurohub will benefit from improved service levels. The new routing via the Eurohub will be finalised until mid 2012".

Drude Logistik was founded in Bad Hersfeld in 1894. The logistics centre in Hauneck / Bad Hersfeld accommodates a 7,200 square metre transhipment terminal with 105 loading bays. 150 employees provide hub services and ensure high quality and security levels. In addition, the company has around 11,500 square metre warehouse space under its management.

Currently, Kuehne + Nagel's European groupage network has line services between 38 countries across the continent, routed via its central hub in Haiger, Germany. Due to capacity constraints, this location does not allow any further expansion of international groupage activities. In Germany, Kuehne + Nagel will continue to partner with the German groupage network IDS, covering 11 of its franchise areas.

Source: Logistics Manager

11th October
ASDA joins Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme

ASDA has joined the Freight Transport Association's Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme which now represents more than 50,000 commercial vehicles.

Chris Hall, national transport manager for ASDA, said: "We continue to drive the focus into producing fewer, friendlier and cheaper miles and are delighted to be involved in this scheme. The opportunity to use this scheme to further develop our collaborative relationships in the industry and to set our agenda in relation to fleets and fuels of the future is vitally important."

Members of the scheme provide fuel usage, fleet and activity data to help paint an accurate picture of the carbon footprint of the logistics sector.

Scheme members commit at a senior director level to participate in the scheme and to have their data independently verified by the FTA as part of the reporting process.

In the first annual report of the scheme, emissions from the sector were tracked from 2005 to 2009 and participants in the scheme committed collectively to an eight per cent reduction in the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions by 2015 (compared to 2010 levels).

FTA chief economist Simon Chapman said: "It would be great if the investment being made by industry towards a low carbon future through such measures as alternative fuel, better vehicle technology, telematics and eco-driver training, was matched by support from the policy makers.

"Government can help by looking at higher capacity trucks, defending double deck trailers against a possible European height limit of 4 metres, making rail freight cheaper and easier to use, restoring rail freight grants and biofuel duty incentives and maintaining a fairer deal on fuel."

Source: Logistics Manager

10th Ocotber 2011
Royal boost for first year of Nightline's UK parcel operations

Nightline, one of Ireland's biggest independent parcel carriers, has enjoyed a good first year for its UK operations.

The company said this week it is on track to achieving a 60,000 volume of parcel shipments to Ireland, after the first 12 months after establishing an office in Lancashire.

It said the "very significant volumes" it is seeing safely across the Irish sea have been partly boosted by this year's official visit by Her Majesty the Queen.

Geremy Ruffin, UK managing director for Nightline, said in the three weeks following the historic Royal visit in May, actual shipments increased 23% while sales enquiries shot up by 70%.

He said: "Our first year in Lancashire has exceeded our expectations. We obviously did a great amount of preparation before we started business to gauge the potential, but even we have been surprised by the number of companies looking for an efficient, specialist alternative carrier to handle their Irish shipments."

NIghtline has sealed a string of contract wins since opening its office in Altham, Lancashire, last summer. Contract wins have included the retail group Aurora, which includes fashion chains Coast, Oasis and Warehouse.

The company has also been shipping items for Findel Education, the UK's biggest educational supplies firm, and "considerable volumes" of agricultural engineering exports.

"We are well on the way to achieving our target of moving 60,000 parcels a week to Ireland," said Ruffin, "something which we feel fully justifies our decision to set up the UK office."

Nightline, which has its head office in Dublin, announced plans last month to treble its operations in Belfast. It also now has plans for a EUR 5m expansion of its headquarters to cope with rising parcel volumes.

The company states that it now handles one in four of all parcels on Irish roads, through its seven facilities in Dublin, Sligo, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Source: Post&Parcel

10th October 2011
New UPS Return System

UPS has announced the introduction of two new return services for customers in 30 countries across Europe – including UK giving businesses and package recipients more control over how they return and exchange shipped items.

"These innovative services extend our expertise in reverse logistics making the returns process controllable for the shipper and convenient for the recipient," said Nick Basford, vice president of marketing, UPS Europe. "These services increase customer satisfaction by providing the rapid replacement or easy return of an important item. The costs associated with unwanted or defective inventory can be high. Getting items returned, repaired and back on sale quickly can be an effective way to improve a company's bottom line."

The first service offering, UPS Returns Exchange, is a combined delivery and pick-up service that streamlines reverse logistics for businesses. It makes the exchange of high-value products – such as electronics or medical devices – more efficient while enhancing the post-sales experience for end customers. The service is particularly suited to shippers in the high-tech, healthcare and retail industries.

With UPS Returns Exchange, a UPS driver delivers a replacement item while simultaneously picking up the original item marked for return. The driver assists the customer in packing the return item in the same box used to deliver the replacement. It's then immediately shipped back to the original sender or to an alternate location, with no second trip for the driver. UPS's tracking tools link the replacement and return shipments, providing end-to-end visibility for the entire transaction, and customers can receive a pre-alert before delivery.

The second service, UPS Returns Pack and Collect, offers customers three types of UPS boxes for collection and return of an item. A driver will take the UPS box and return label to the customer and quickly verify that the item is the correct one to be returned. The driver then will assist with packing the item and it will be returned to the original shipper through the UPS network. Verification, packing expertise and specially designed UPS packaging ensure that damage is minimized and returned goods reach their intended destination.

In addition to improving the customer experience, UPS Returns Exchange and UPS Returns Pack and Collect cut carbon emissions and reduce costs. With both products, only one trip is necessary to deliver the return packaging and pick up the returned item – saving fuel and reducing emissions. Expert packing of the returned item ensures that it remains well protected and stable in transit, thereby reducing the possibility of additional costs. Finally, in the case of UPS Returns Exchange, waste is reduced by reusing the replacement item's packaging for the return shipment.

UPS also announced today the availability of a new re-sealable express envelope that allows documents to be received and returned in the same packaging. The UPS Reusable Express Envelope, now available to customers across Europe, is made from 100 percent recycled fibre. The envelope can be used twice since a second adhesive strip allows it to be resealed with the strength and durability of a new UPS envelope. In addition to putting return packaging immediately at the fingertips of a recipient, the re-sealable envelope reduces waste and is an easy and convenient way to add to any company's sustainability efforts.

Source: The Delivery Magazine

7th October 2011
Tough market makes TNT revise targets

TNT Express has revised its targets for 2011 to reflect a challenging trading environment.
In a third quarter business update, it said that for Europe & MEA revenue the target is to achieve muted growth, with an underlying operating margin of 8-9 per cent. It said that while trading was relatively resilient in EMEA, with overall steady volume development, worsening product mix negatively impacted the third quarter operating performance. Cost control and efficiency gains helped mitigate revenue pressure.

Asia Pacific's second half operating result should continue the first half trend. The focus would be on optimising intercontinental capacity exposure. Asia Pacific profitability suffered from continuing weak Asia-Europe demand, leading to sub-optimal capacity utilisation in a soft pricing environment.

On the Americas, it said the continuing negative performance was being addressed through a full range of corrective measures. And TNT said it expected other networks to perform somewha below the prior year.

It is looking for annualised cost savings of some 50m euros, with expected related charges and write-offs of 45-65m euros. The company has not changed its medium-term aims

Source: Logistics Manager

7th October 2011
ASOS offers next day delivery for midnight orders

Online fashion retailer ASOS is using CitySprint to provide a "twilight" delivery service which allows customers to place orders until midnight for delivery the following day.

Orders received by midnight are collected by CitySprint from ASOS' central distribution centre and delivered as normal between 6 pm and 9 pm the next day. The service costs £9.95.

Robert Muldoon, customer delivery manager at ASOS said: "We have developed a new shopping experience for our customers, which extends the time they can shop and still gives them the ability to receive their order the next day between 6pm and 9pm – seven days a week.

"This is the perfect solution for our customers who lead hectic lifestyles but also have a big appetite to shop. CitySprint's creative solution is really helping us make a difference, allowing us to compete with the high street's extended opening times."

ASOS has launched the service in London, Leeds and Manchester and plans to extend it to Liverpool and Nottingham.

Source: Logistics Manager

7th October 2011
UK Mail closes two depots

UK Mail has closed two depots to reduce its fixed costs, the group said in its pre-close trading statement for the six months to 30th September.

"We have taken further action to reduce the fixed costs of our business, with the closure of two depots reducing our total number of parcels/mail sites to 52, along with some restructuring in a number of other areas of our business, which we expect will result in one off costs of some £700k," it said.

It said it expects underlying operating profit to be broadly in line with last year. "Overall performance in the first half of the year is anticipated to be in line with our expectations, with a satisfactory trading performance in the first quarter and a more challenging second quarter."

Source: Logistics Manager

6th October 2011
Royal Mail to close four mail processing plants in Midlands

Royal Mail is set to close three mail processing plants in the Midlands region of England, with the loss of 393 jobs.
The move continues its consolidation programme in response to the ongoing decline in mail volumes.
Royal Mail said yesterday that it will close mail centres in Worcester, Leicester and Derby by 2014.

With expectations that mail volumes will more than halve from 2006 levels by 2014, the company said it will only need four mail processing centres in the region. The remaining centres will be its sites in Birmingham, Nottingham, Wolverhampton and Swan Valley in Northamptonshire.

Royal Mail is expecting operations from the Worcester plant to transfer to Birmingham from next year, while operations at the Leicester site will switch to the Swan Valley site from 2013. Operations at the Derby plant will transfer to Nottingham from 2014.

Royal Mail said it has held eight months of consultation over the planned closures, including talks with the Communication Workers Union and Unite CMA. As a result of the consultation, it said its planned job losses had been reduced from an original estimate of 550. Expected job losses will mostly be seen in Leicester, with 206 positions set to go, along with 98 in Worcester and 89 in Derby.

Royal Mail is also intending to move local delivery offices into the vacated mail centres in Worcester, Leicester and Derby once processing activities have transferred, in order to make use of the real estate. However, it said reduction in headcount will be "primarily" from the original mail processing centres, not from the transferred delivery offices. "Voluntary" The company said it believes it can reduce its headcount without compulsory redundancies, and stated that it will continue to be a major employer in the region, with 17,700 employees in the area.

Paul Jobling, the company's Midlands regional operations director, said: "It is hard to reduce job numbers at any time and we are committed to doing everything we can, in line with our agreement with the CWU, to make these changes on a voluntary basis. "We are determined, therefore, through our modernisation programme, to continue providing a high quality of service and place the company on a sound, secure and sustainable footing," he added. The consolidation comes as part of Royal Mail's biggest ever modernisation programmes, with the organisation shaping up for the new postal era of reduced mailing and private sector competition – and a potential privatisation. Since 2009,

Royal Mail has closed of its 69 mail centres, opening three new sites. Average daily mail volumes at Royal Mail are now 62m letters, packets and parcels, some 22m less than the 84m peak seen in 2005. The organisation is anticipating an ongoing 5% yearly decline "for the foreseeable future", expecting that by 2015, Royal Mail's end-to-end volumes will have shrunk 80% within a decade. "Our company needs to change quickly. We have to reduce our costs at a faster rate than the decline in our revenues. We need to modernise our operations, findnew business and focus on our customers," said Jobling.

Source: Post&Parcel

6th October 2011
City link expands sameday operation opening two new centres

City Link, the UK's premium express delivery company, has further expanded its Sameday operation with the opening of two new centres in Bristol and Newcastle as customer demand increases
City Link has identified that its Sameday service offering has significant untapped potential and its development is part of the company's ongoing strategy to further expand its Sameday operation across the UK. With this in mind the company has invested heavily in both developing a new structure and implementing an IT infrastructure in order to lay the foundations and support its future growth.

Over the past year City Link's Sameday has enjoyed substantial growth from a wide range of business sectors and now has its sights set on achieving further growth in 2012. The two new centres complement City Link's existing Sameday centres and strengthen its service offering to customers. Further new sites are earmarked for the coming year with particular focus being given to outlying areas.

Ian Bolton, Head of Sameday is confident that the Sameday operation within City Link has huge potential. Ian took over the role earlier this year. An existing City Link employee, Ian had previously been employed by DHL Sameday as National Operations Manager.

Ian Bolton commented:"The strength of the City Link brand and reputation for delivering exceptional levels of service coupled with the company's infrastructure places us in an ideal position to continue to grow our Sameday business. "The potential is immense. The foundations we have laid over the past year places us in an ideal position to continue to develop and drive the business forward and reinforce City Link's market leading position as a premium express delivery company."

Source: Delivery Magazine

5th October 2011
DHL launches City Logistics competition

DHL has launched a competition on City Logistics which aims to gather ideas and input from academics, politicians, IT experts and others.

The concept, known as Open Innovation, is that firms should use ideas gathered from a variety of external sources in addition to ones generated internally, as they look to advance their technology. It is already used in the automotive, technology and consumer industries.

"With growing cities all over the world, the challenges of city logistics and urban living are becoming more and more demanding. Solutions for decreasing traffic and getting cities greener are crucial for the future. DHL knows that the logistics industry plays a significant role and we want to broaden our approach to City Logistics by also inviting people outside the company to contribute their perspective," said Steffen Frankenberg, vice president at DHL Solutions & Innovations.
The competition focuses on three categories:

1. Logistics efficiency in urban areas What can improve the logistics flows of goods and services in and out of limited environments? What new logistical challenges can be expected in the future? What kind of solutions can be developed to respond to these challenges?

2. Green City and Urban living What defines a truly green city and what does it take to become one? What are the key challenges a city faces in the coming 50 years, and what kinds of regulations must be adopted to face these challenges?

3. Digital logistics Which IT Solutions could improve logistics with respect to traffic management, traffic prediction, warehouse management, etc.? What are the innovative criteria behind these potential solutions? What are smart next-generation IT solutions?

The contest is conducted via a web-based platform, where ideas and experiences are submitted and discussed in an open forum. The web site www.dhl.com/citylogistics-oi is open from 18th October, and the final date for submissions is 28th November. A jury of experts from different fields and backgrounds will evaluate the submissions in December and name the winners of the contest in the first quarter of 2012.

Source: Logistics Manager

4th October 2011
Royal Mail seeks 18,000 workers for run-up to Christmas

Royal Mail is launching a recruitment drive to hire 18,000 temporary workers to help cope withthe surge in volumes ahead of the festive season.

The company said it will be offering 15,000 roles in England, 2,000 in Scotland, 1,000 in Wales and 400 in Northern Ireland between mid-November and early January. Backing up the 130,000 permanent processing and delivery staff at Royal Mail, the temporary staff will help process the Christmas mailbag of around two billion mailpieces.

Royal Mail's managing director of operations and modernisation, Mark Higson, said: "Christmas is the busiest time of the year for Royal Mail and we plan all year round to help ensure we deliver the best possible service to our customers. On peak days, the volume of cards, letters and packets we handle is around double the 62 million items we deal with on an average day."

Last year, more than 70,000 people applied to work for Royal Mail over the festive period.

Source: Post and Parcel

4th October 2011
Pharma contract for Yusen

UK pharmaceutical company ProStrakan has taken on Yusen Logistics for its international supplychain.

The service covers both air-freight and temperature-controlled container shipping as well as pan-European road transport. Air freight is organised between the US and the Far East and between India and the UK, while temperature controlled container shipping is organised betweenEurope and the US.
The European operation involves the temperature-controlled distribution of product from ProStrakan's manufacturing plants to delivery points throughout Europe by means of Yusen's "Pharmaceutical Superhighway" – a transport network linking specialist hubs that consolidate/load share and cross-dock product for onward delivery.

Nick Whitaker, supply chain manager at ProStrakan, which is based in Galashiels, said: "We were looking for a genuine one stop shop for our international supply chain requirements."

Source: Logistics Manager

3rd October 20114th October 2011
Cloggs select Hermes as a Home Delivery Partner.

Cloggs, the multi-channel retailer of footwear and associated products, has awarded a home delivery contract to Hermes. Under the agreement, Hermes will handle around 60,000 parcels andpackets each year and was selected due to its ability to provide high levels of service during the company's peak trading period.

Hermes will collect ecommerce traffic generated via the cloggs.co.uk website, including branded footwear for men, women and children, from the retailer's central warehouse on a daily basis and deliver to customers using its 48-hour standard service.

Consignments will be transported from the Birmingham site to Hermes' national distribution hub in Nuneaton, Warwickshire for sorting and onward delivery to the company's regional depot network. From there, orders will be distributed to more than 7,500 lifestyle couriers for delivery to households across the UK.

Melanie Cross, Head of Customer Experience at Cloggs commented: "We are committed to offering branded footwear at low prices, so we needed a delivery partner that could provide a high quality service especially during our peak period. Working with Hermes, we are confident of meeting the needs of our customers by making the shopping experience as convenient and rewarding as possible."

Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes in the UK said: "Our courier network approach means we can provide an unrivalled solution that combines quality doorstep delivery, with a friendly and local service. Cloggs is a leading footwear retailer in the UK and we look forward to working closely with the company to support the continued growth of its online solution."

3rd October 2011
NFT opens £2m depot in North West

Chilled food and drink distributor NFT is opening a £2m depot in the North West on 1st Octoberto add shared user capacity.

The 90,000 sq ft depot at Middleton in Greater Manchester, extends NFT's warehousing capacityby some 60 per cent. A 70,000 sq ft cold store will enable the trans-shipment of around 20,000 pallets per week, with extra storage space for1,200 pallets.

David Frankish, chief executive, said: "We had a vision for the future which included a state-of-the-art warehouse encompassing energy efficiency, cross-docking and multi-user flexibility which is all now a reality.

"With over £20m invested in the business in the past four years, this new Middleton development is a significant step forward in our aggressive growth plans and will contribute further to our strong financial position".
The facility currently operating at 45 per cent capacity, but is expected to rise to 85 per cent by March 2012.
It already services customers such as Asda, Mathew Walker, Taylors of Harrogate and Orkney Herring.

Source:Logistics Manager

30th September 2011
FedEx Ground opens 5th package facility in Chicago area

FedEx Ground has opened its fifth major package sorting and delivery station in the Chicago area of the United States.

The new 20,000 square metre facility in Grayslake, Illinois, features the latest automated material handling tecnology for sorting 63,000 packages and dispatching up to 130 vehicles a day for deliveries in the Midwest area.

The $38m facility will use around 200 full-time and part-time staff, and could require a further 300 when it is operating at full capacity.
FedEx, which is seeing strong growth at the moment in its FedEx Ground services within the US,said the new distribution centre is part of an ongoing nationwide expansion and transit time acceleration plan.

The plan seeks to boost daily package volume capacity and improve the speed and service capabilities of the network.
It continues FedEx Ground's expansion plan that has been ongoing since 2002, since when 10 news major hubs have opened or relocated along with 500 local facilities.

Speeding up ground delivery by a day or more within half of the United States, FedEx Ground now delivers more than 60% of its packages within two days, and more than 80% within three days, the company said.
Daily package volumes have doubled since 2002, from 1.75m to more than 3.7m per day in the US and Canada.

FedEx Ground reported a $8.4bn annual turnover in its fiscal year 2011.
"Enhancing our distribution capability in the Midwest is an important step in our ongoing efforts to increase the size, speed and efficiency of our network," said Bob F. Wilson, vice president of the Central Region for FedEx Ground.
"This new facility will enable us to meet the growing demand of local shippers and transport shipments across the country."

Source: Post & Parcel Fedex

30th September 2011
29 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps opens base to public

Lt Col Anna Kimber said efforts were under way to "build closer links" with the community Continue reading the main story
The 29 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps has opened its base in a bid to nurture its relationship with the community.
The regiment processes all Army troops before their deployment to Afghanistan and manages postal deliveries for the front line.
Commanding Officer Lt Col Anna Kimber said efforts were under way to "build closer links" with the community in the South Cerney area.
The Duke of Gloucester Barracks is open to members of the public until Friday.
Lt Col Kimber said: "We don't have any bus stops outside the camp and we have lots of wives who don't drive, so we're trying to campaign to try and get some bus stops.
"There is no footpath to South Cerney. We would like to be able to walk our kids into our local town," she added.

Soruce: BBC NEWS
30th September 2011
TNT Post UK Calls For VAT Rethink As Postcomm Merges With Ofcom

With postal industry regulation passing to Ofcom from Postcomm this weekend, (1st October 2011), new research has found that competition within the postal sector improves the ability of a national postal service provider to meets its Universal Service Obligation (USO).

Findings from a survey carried out by the respected postal consultancy, WIK-Consult, on the European countries that have already seen much higher levels of postal delivery competition than in the UK, demonstrate that there has been a positive impact on the incumbent postal service provider's ability to deliver to every household within its territory over the past ten years. In addition, the research found that competition has been a catalyst for modernisation of the postal service, to meet the changing needs of the consumer and the challenges faced from electronic substitution.

Head of WIK-Consult's postal unit, Alex Dieke, concluded that: "In the four countries studied in our report, we believe end-to-end competition has helped to achieve a sustainable universal service and, indeed, improve universal service quality, by putting pressure on incumbent operators to modernise"

TNT Post UK, the largest private sector postal operator in the UK, which has long held ambitions to launch a competing end-to-end service to Royal Mail, is calling upon Ofcom to set a regulatory regime which protects fair competition from both access and end-to-end services and to back its campaign for a level competitive landscape in the UK. Currently, Royal Mail is exempt from charging VAT on its business mail services. Some private operators,including TNT, say this makes it uncompetitive in terms of competing fully as the financial and charity sectors which account for half of business mail volumes are unable to recover VAT.

TNT Post UK said the findings reinforced its position that a strong regulator is essential to ensure that competition thrives and that customers have real choice in the UK. Nick Wells, CEO TNT Post UK, commented: "The report findings will help allay fears that competition will have a detrimental impact on the ability of Royal Mail to meet its obligation to deliver to every household in the UK. In addition, zonal pricing for business mail where we pay more for the company to deliver in more rural areas will ensure the survival of the USO.

"We want a strong Royal Mail but it has to modernise to meet the needs of the market today and in the future and also be open to competitive forces that will ensure its future efficiency and prosperity. "With Ofcom taking over regulation of the postal industry, we call upon on it to back our fight to get a level competitive playing field in the UK which will enable us to make the business case to invest millions in an end to end service as well as thousands of new jobs." Earlier this week, Postcomm announced that it had granted Royal Mail dispensation from requirement to offer terms for new access agreements.
Ofcom currently regulates the TV and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms and mobiles, plus the airwaves oover which wireless devices operate.

Soruce: Hellmail

29th September 2011
New network director for Fortec

Pallet network Fortec has hired Tony Tompkins as network director to work with the regional commercial managers to develop the network.

Until last year Tompkins was a regional director with City Link and before that was with Target where he worked with Neil Hodgson, who is now managing director of Fortec.

Source: Logistics Manager

28th September 2011
Tesco in battle for Crawley warehouse

Tesco is battling to build a 122,000 sq ft dot.com depot in Crawley.
Lynton Developments has submitted plans to the council for a home deliveries centre with 198 car parking spaces, service yards, vehicle maintenance buildings, vehicle fuelling and washing facilities and landscaping on a 21 acres site close at Manor Royal.

The centre will be run 24/7 and employ 600 people with up to 60 per cent full time and 40 per cent part time. The council's development committee has agreed to the plans but as the scheme is on non-employment land it is deemed to go against the local plan and must be ratified by the whole council. Local councillors are concerned that if they turn down the application they will lose these valuable jobs to another borough.

Source: Logistics Manager

27th September 2011
TNT Post targets online retailers

TNT Post UK, part of the PostNL group, has launched a packet and parcel for the online retail market which it reckons will be five to ten per cent cheaper than Royal Mail.

It has invested in automatic sorting machines in its Iver depot for the new service, which will offer real time management information where clients can apply barcodes to their packets, and monitor their progress online.

Guernsey Post has signed on as a client, and its head of bulk mail, Shaun Lihou, said: "We have to ensure that our clients receive an efficient and quality service and working with TNT Post will enable us to fulfil that promise."

Chief executive officer, Nick Wells, said: "Our expansion into packets and parcels is a key part of strategic growth plan in the UK… Online retail packets and parcel delivery is a growing trend within the postal sector and our aim is to be the main provider in this sector."

Source Logistics Mananger

26th September 2011
DHL Express increases rates

DHL Express is increasing its prices by an average of 3.5 per cent for international products and 5 percent for domestic products.

The UK price rises are in line with the general average price increase across European and come into force on 1st January.

Source: Logistics Manager

23rd September
French Connection win for K+N

French Connection has hired Kuehne + Nagel to handle distribution from its site at Thurrock in
Essex.

Kuehne + Nagel will be responsible for the storage, picking and packing of both boxed and hanging garments, at French Connection's 140,000 sq ft facility. It will handle about seven million units a year.

It will also cover forward distribution through London using a fleet of 7.5 tonners.

A key factor in French Connection's decision to use K+N was the use of the KN Production System - a structured methodology based on lean supply chain principles.

The system is intended to standardise processes and systems as well as organisation and performance measurement.

Steve Prangnell, French Connection's head of supply chain & logistics, said: "We moved into our current facility five years ago and felt that it was time to look at what we were doing and drive towards a leaner model. It is important during these challenging times that we maintain our service offering to our customers, but drive costs down. Kuehne + Nagel displayedthe same principles throughout the whole tender process and is well equipped with KNPS to be able to meet our goals."

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd September
DHL to open end-of-runway logistics centre

DHL Supply Chain is investing 14m euros in a 15,000 sq m multi-user distribution centre at Leipzig/Halle airport which is due to start operations in May next year.
The site which is designed as an "end-of-runway" operation, combining the strengths of both DHL's express and supply chain divisions.

It is targeting the life sciences & healthcare and technology sectors. The concept is to allow for late cut-off times, combined with speed to market and integrated services coordination based on a direct injection into DHL's express network.

Source Logistics Manager

21st September
4,000th store for Collect+ network

Parcel delivery and collection service Collect+ has recruited the 4,000th store to its network of corner shops.

The service appoints local retailers that are part of the PayPoint network to pass on parcels to and from customers through the Yodel delivery network. Corner shops provide a local collection and drop off point with extended hours of business.

Source: Logistics Manager

19th September
Collect+ hires Woolfe

Parcel delivery and collection firm Collect+ has appointed Catherine Woolfe, former head of marketing communications at E.ON, as its marketing director.

She joins Collect+ after four years at E.ON, where she worked on brand strategy; integrated advertising and media strategy. She was also previously the marketing communications manager at Volkswagen.

Mark Lewis, chief executive, said: "Catherine brings years of experience both at E.ON and VW, and she will be a key asset as we grow the Collect+ business, bringing more retailers on board."

Source: Collect+

19th September
Wincanton brings in Elliott from DHL

Wincanton has hired Guy Elliott as managing director, contract logistics UK and Ireland.

He joins from DHL Supply Chain where he was chief executive officer for Northern Europe, responsible for all industry sectors in Belgium, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and the Baltics.

Elliot said: "I joined Wincanton because I see an outstanding opportunity for the company in the logistics market place.

"No one in the British 3PL market place has the track record or potential of Wincanton to match what is needed. Over the next six to twelve months I will therefore be working to ensure that we revitalise our business, re-focusing on operational excellence, great relationships and, above all, proactivity and agility.

During his time at DHL, Elliot held various senior positions within the consumer and food retail sector of DHL Exel Supply Chain, starting as a business director in the retail division and culminating in his appointment to be CEO of DHL's Consumer and Food Retail business in 2005.

During this period, he led the business through rapid growth, establishing a national shared user transport network and securing lead logistics partner contracts with Sainsbury's, Morrison's, Iceland, and Nisa Today's among others. In his early career, Elliot worked with Hays Logistics, Swift Transport Services and Christian Salvesen before joining DHL Exel Supply Chain.

He will report to Wincanton chief Executive, Eric Born who said: "Guy brings strong leadership skills and a wealth of experience to our business. I am delighted to be able to welcome him to the team. He is a well-respected personality in our industry and has demonstrated a strong pedigree in growing logistics operations across a broad range of markets and industry sectors. The role will be instrumental in rolling out our strategy, which is to be the most innovative business in the industry, delivering consistently excellent service every day."

Source: Wincanton

16th September
HRH the Princess Royal opens System Training's new skills academy

System Training's new Skills Training Academy received Royal approval after HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the new centre in Carlisle on Thursday, September 15, 2011. The new training facility is the result of a £1m investment by System Training and provides it with more teaching classrooms and practical training workshops.

System Training, the UK's largest logistics training provider, welcomed The Princess Royal who has a long and distinguished relationship with the road haulage and logistics industries. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistics Corps, a past Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen and an honorary member of the Road Haulage Association, The Princess has a keen interest in logistics.

The training centre, which is part-funded by Skills Funding Agency, will be used primarily to deliver Apprenticeships to young people, key skills to get unemployed people back into work, logistics training and workforce development. The Princess was hosted by System Training's Chief Executive Robin Brown who introduced the board of directors and company employees. During a tour of the new facility The Princess met young motor vehicle apprentices and lorry drivers from Eddie Stobart, Bibby Distribution, Yodel and Asda who were undergoing eco-friendly, fuel-efficient driver training. The tour also included a safety demonstration from Cumbria Fire & Rescue, a display of client commercial vehicles and a chance to meet logistics apprentices learning to drive on a state-of-the-art truck driving simulator.

The Princess then unveiled a commemorative slate plaque to open the building and looked-on as Robin Brown donated the services of a training instructor and training materials to Transaid – a third-world transport charity of which she is Patron. Among the guests were the Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria Sir James Cropper, Sir Michael Bibby, the Mayor of Carlisle Councillor Barry Earp, the Chairman of Cumbria County Council Councillor John Woolley and Carlisle MP John Stevenson. They were joined by a host of dignitaries from the logistics, skills and training industries.

Robin Brown, System Training Chief Executive, said: "It's an incredible honour for HRH The Princess Royal to give our new Skills Academy a stamp of quality and a Royal seal of approval. We work hard to improve skills within the logistics industry, deliver apprenticeship programmes to young learners and help give unemployed people the skills to find jobs – and it's fantastic to have this recognised by The Princess. The company started from humble beginnings but we have a fantastic family of staff who have all contributed to the company's success."

Source: System Training

16th September
Deutsche Post DHL 750m euro parcel plan

Deutsche Post DHL has set out plans to invest 750 million euros in modernising its German parcel network with the aim that parcels will be sent as fast as letters in the future.

Jürgen Gerdes, corporate board member Mail at Deutsche Post DHL, said: "This is the largest investment in our parcel infrastructure since the 1990s. It will expand our leading position in the market and ultimately make our parcel business the second strong pillar of our mail business."

Since 2007, sales in the parcel business has increased on average by 3.5 per cent annually. It went up by as much as nearly 10 per cent in the first half of 2011. As a result, this growing market already makes up around one-fifth of the total revenue in the Mail division.

DHL Parcel currently transports more than 2.6 million parcels on average each day. Pre-Christmas volumes are double this amount. It has 33 automated parcel centres and some 40,000 couriers.

The parcel centres process about 20,000 parcels per hour and the aim is to increase this to 28,000, 40,000 and even 50,000 parcels per hour, depending on the location.

It also plans to restructure its transport network. "Our goal in the future is to deliver a parcel anywhere in Germany as fast as we can deliver a letter today," said Gerdes.

Source: Logistics Manager

15th September
DB Schenker Logistics to open 15 sites in China

DB Schenker Logistics has set out plans to open 15 sites in China by the end of the year.

The company currently has 50 sites in China and some 4,600 employees. Schenker chairman Thomas C Lieb said: "Together with our customers, we are now following economic development to the Chinese hinterland.

The new sites include locations in additional cities in the coastal regions as well as in new centres of economic interest in the interior, such as in the rapidly growing city of Urumqi and others like Hohhot, Mianyang and Weihai.

In June it opened offices in Zhangjiagang, Huzhou and Shaoxing. An additional office was opened in Yiwu in central China in mid-August.

Leib said: "We combine a local presence with our worldwide network, thus ensuring consistent high quality of services and solutions, in line with global standards for our customers' supply chains throughout the entire process, from the source to the destination."

Source: Logistics Manager

14th September
400,000 sq ft DC for clothing brand Regatta

Outdoor and leisure clothing supplier Regatta is to set up a new distribution centre in the North West.

The company has taken Royal London's 400,000 sq ft Pioneer Point facility in Ellesmere Port fronting the M53 motorway. It will serve the UK and European markets and could be operational by November.

Jo Radcliffe, the family-owned company's head of human resources, said: "We hope to have around 75 people employed and trained by Christmas and the remainder of jobs will follow on a phased basis over the next two to three years."

Jobs on offer will range from fork lift truck drivers, pickers and packers on the shop floor, to administration and management. Regatta said a recruitment drive had already begun.

The company reported revenues of £80m in the year to 31 January 2010 and a pre-tax profit of £7.1m. It now has sales offices in 12 countries worldwide.

Regatta has agreed a 15 year lease for the building where quoting rental levels were at £4.50 per sq ft.

Mike Rooney of WHR, which advised Regatta, said: "This is a fantastic deal not only for Regatta but for the industrial market as, outside of London it is probably the biggest industrial deal so far this year and is a clear indicator that the market is slowly turning. Regatta is experiencing huge growth in its sector and with few large sheds readily available, we were able to negotiate a great deal for our client which also allows flexibility for further expansion going forward."

Mr Rooney continues: "As more and more buildings are being taken up the supply of existing industrial stock is rapidly diminishing which means that landlords are going to adopt a position of greater strength as soon potential occupiers will have no choice but to look at design and build options if requiring new premises."

The deal follows four months of talks between Regatta and Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Ellesmere Port Development Board and officers from the authority's economic development team.

Council leader Mike Jones said the agreement was a "major step" in the regeneration of Ellesmere Port. He added: "I hope there will many more such investments to come.

"Having met Regatta we have done everything possible to help the company with all aspects of the move and will continue to work in partnership with them to ensure that their local recruitment process is a success."

Source: Logistics Manager

13th September
Yodel wins branding award

Yodel and its brand agency, The Clearing, have won the branding design category at the Blades 2011, the marketing awards created by pitch and supported by Creative Review, designweek.co.uk, nma.co.uk and Marketing Week.

Yodel chief Jonathan Smith, said: "I'm delighted that the panel considered the Yodel identity and name something to shout about. Today's win is testament to both the bravery in choosing a striking and challenging look, and the quality of the execution by our brand agency The Clearing."

Source: Logistics Manager

13th September
Deutsche Post DHL to develop electric delivery vehicle

Deutsche Post DHL is to develop its own electric delivery vehicle in partnership with StreetScooter, a company set up by RWTH Aachen University.

A zero-emission drivable prototype is scheduled for the autumn of 2012, and will be based on the "StreetScooter platform" created by StreetScooter.

Deutsche Post DHL wants a vehicle that can handle up to 200 stops and start-up procedures and be in use up to 300 days a year.

It has to have sufficient enough load capacity for mail and parcels as well as a robust set of equipment that meets all the safety requirements.

The company believes that electric vehicles that are currently on the market meet some of these requirements and cannot yet be manufactured economically.

As a vehicle that is being designed specially for Deutsche Post, it will not have to go very fast and only make short hauls.

By 2020 the GoGreen programme aims to increase the company's carbon efficiency by 30 per cent compared to the base year of 2007.

Source: Logistics Manager

12th September
iForce takes on thousands of staff for peak

E-fulfilment and returns logistics firm iForce anticipates taking on between 1,800 to 2,000 agency staff for the Christmas peak period.

The online retail peak period from 1st October to 31st December is when e-fulfilment is truly tested. During this period last year iForce dispatched 2.6 million orders.

Chief executive Mark Hewitt said: "We anticipate an even busier peak this year not just because clients, such as John Lewis, Sainsbury's and Boots, achieve strong year-on-year online retail growth but also because the volumes being processed through iForce's multi-channel returns processing and remarketing arm will have soared."

Source: Logistics Manager

12th September
FedEx torn between Boeing and Airbus for fleet replacements

FedEx is reported to be deciding whether to renew its delivery fleet by buying wide-bodied freighters from Airbus or Boeing.

The potential order by FedEx, which operates the world's biggest aircraft fleet, is expected to be for around 50 planes and the operator is reported to be torn between buying B767s or A330s.

The FedEx board may come into a conclusion at a meeting today, but the final decision is not expected anytime soon as it may take several months to finalise the decision said sources.

FedEx, based in Memphis, Tennessee, could include secondhand passenger B767s for conversion to cargo in the deal.

Source: IFW

9th September
Doll boutique deal for Hellmann

My London Girl, a new doll boutique, has chosen Hellmann UK to handle its logistics including air and sea freight, e-commerce, all warehousing and picking, and direct delivery into shops.

It is opening a store at the Westfield Shopping Centre in London and reckons it will be the first stand-alone doll boutique offering girls the chance to match their dolls to their personalities via a range of customised outfits and accessories.

A web site is due to open later in the year.

Paul Neagle, founder of My London Girl, said: "Opening our first UK store is a real milestone for us, and we have big plans for the future. We felt that Hellmann UK really understood our requirements, and that it offered an unbeatable combination of expertise and experience."

Source: Logistics Manager

8th September
City Link nets fishing supplier contract

Fishing equipment supplier Daiwa Sports has awarded a delivery contract to City Link, worth some £250,000 per year.

City Link will deliver its angling accessories across the UK, and will provide its MyCityLInk tracking service that conveys near real-time information about the progress of parcels via the internet.

Daiwa manufactures its products in Wishaw, Scotland, and also acts as an agent for the Sundridge range of clothing and footwear and Ian Gold accessories.

Source: Logistics Manager

8th September
DPD invests £12m at Oldbury hub

Parcel delivery firm DPD will open a £12m extension of its national sorting hub at Oldbury on 22nd September.

And it has created 150 new full-times roles for loaders and Class 1 drivers at its Smethwick and Oldbury hubs in the West Midlands, to handle business growth.

Chief executive Dwain McDonald said: "Our business is continuing to grow. In particular, our unique Predict service, which offers customers a one hour delivery window, has produced £40 million of new business wins this year.

"The new facility at Oldbury provides state-of-the-art equipment and allows us to accommodate the vast volumes our business handles."

Source: Logistics Manager

8th September
Lavazza chooses Ceva

Italian coffee maker Lavazza has selected Ceva to handles its distribution in Spain and Portugal.

Lavazza will have an area dedicated to its operations in a multi-user warehouse located on the outskirts of Barcelona. Ceva will manage the inbound logistics for goods arriving from Lavazza's factory in Italy, as well as storage of all products before onward delivery to customers in Spain and Portugal.

Ceva is already responsible for the logistics operations at the Italian central warehouse in Turin.

Source: Logistics Manager

7th September
Bibby buys Stakehill warehouse

Bibby Distribution has purchased a 108,000 sq ft warehouse in Manchester in order to facilitate a wider range of services and to grow customers' stockholding capacity.

The new site, located on the Stakehill Industrial and Distribution Park, Middleton, will consolidate the operations of two smaller facilities currently leased by the company in Heywood. All operations and the 50 employees based at the Heywood sites will move across with Bibby.

The warehouse has storage capacity for up to 11,500 pallets and also features a 6,500 sq ft mezzanine floor.

Paul Cullingford, chief financial officer, said: "With the additional space the site offers, and the greater stability that comes with owned premises, we can help customers streamline their activities and allow them to scale operations up or down with a more adaptable multi-user site.

"In addition, the new facility gives us the scope to offer a wider range of added value services to our customers which were not possible from existing premises, including product re-packing, re-labelling and decanting. It also holds accreditation to the stringent standards set by the American Institute of Bakers, an organisation which endeavours to protect the safety of food supply chains worldwide."

Source: Logistics Manager

7th September
Parcel firm signs for Collect+

Parcel2Go.com has taken on the services of Collect+, so that its customers can send their parcels via convenience stores.

The Collect+ service allows parcels to be picked up or dropped off at convenience stores in the PayPoint network, and delivered via Yodel. Parcels will be delivered direct to recipients' addresses within three to five working days after being dropped off at a local shop.

James Greenbury, chief executive of Parcel2Go, said: "The introduction of Collect+ means that Parcel2Go is giving its customers the widest choice of carriers so that they can opt for the service that is right for them. From today, our customers can choose to drop off a parcel at a store on their doorstep that is open long hours, seven days a week."

Source: Logistics Manager

7th September
Spiralling costs still threaten UK hauliers

The high cost of fuel remains the biggest cause for concern among haulage operators, according to a new report by the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Its Manager's Guide to Distribution Costs, published yesterday, notes that commercial vehicle operators continue to be squeezed by rising operating costs and pressure for earlier payment terms from suppliers, while facing downward pressure on haulage rates and lengthening payment terms from customers.

The FTA's latest update to its members calculates that, on average, vehicle operating costs have risen by 5.6% in the year to 1 July 2011.

The largest contribution came from an increase in the price of diesel, up by 12%. In addition, tyre costs have risen by 7.3% and overheads by 5% in the same period.

By contrast, increases in haulage rates have not matched the rise in operating costs.

According to the FTA, domestic haulage rates rose by an average of just 1.8% in the six months to 1 July, and international haulage rates by an average of just 1.5%. More than half of the contributors to the update indicated that they had not increased their haulage rates since the start of the year.

Bruce Goodhart, FTA Research Analyst, said:"Hauliers were able to ride out the recession by reducing margins and delaying vehicle replacement. However, they are continuing to feel the pinch with rising input costs, the high price of fuel and pressure from their customers not to increase charges.

"Economic growth is currently very weak in the UK and it is likely that some hauliers may not be able to sustain their business in these circumstances."

Source: IFW

6th September
Pallet-Track launches website

Pallet-Track has re-launched its web site to present details of its services and company news to customers. Mana

ging director Nigel Parkes said: "The website remains our principal outlet of communication to both our members and the transport industry in general. As such, it is important that we provide the widest possible amount of information, covering all aspects of our services and facilities."

Source: Logistics Manager

5th September
Cullen Packaging switches to Norbert

Cullen Packaging, a Scottish box manufacturer, has hired Norbert Dentressangle to distribute its products through the UK.

Norbert Dentressangle will collect orders from the company's major manufacturing facility in Glasgow, to make next day deliveries via its shared user network. Cullen has also taken on Norbert's Shipment Handling and Reporting Program, to place orders electronically, which are scanned and tracked in real time to improve operational efficiency.

The firm switched from its previous distributor to Norbert Dentressangle for its comprehensive supply chain solution and online tracking.

Richie Kelly, distribution manager at Cullen Packaging, said: "As an established transport provider, we are confident that Norbert Dentressangle has the resources and capability to more than meet our delivery criteria and expectations of our wide range of customers."

Cullen produces internal and external packaging including produce trays, shelf ready packaging, bottle protectors and medical and industrial pulp products made from recycled paper. Its customers include Numatic International (manufacturers of the Henry vacuums), Marks & Spencer and the NHS.

Source: Logistics Manager

1st September
Stobart Group defends airport plans

Stobart Group has hit back at consultants' claims that its ambitious plans for Carlisle Airport in the UK are unlikely to sustain either air freight or passenger flights.

The transport group is seeking planning permission for a 394,000sq ft freight-distribution centre and to resurface the runway at the airport, near Crosby-on-Eden, UK.

In support of its application, Stobart Group has tabled documents with Carlisle City Council claiming that Carlisle could become an air-freight hub for Tesco, flying in perishable goods from Spain and Holland for delivery to supermarkets across northern Britain.

The groups also outlined proposals for regular passenger flights to London Southend, Belfast and Dublin.

And it has repeated a veiled warning that Eddie Stobart haulage jobs at Kingstown, Carlisle, could go to Widnes or Glasgow if the airport scheme is blocked.

But Carlisle City Council's aviation consultants concluded and there was "very little potential" for air freight and that passenger flights would not be "commercially viable."

Their report led planning officers to advise councillors to refuse the planning application on the grounds that it was "primarily for road haulage rather than airport related".

But Stobart persuaded councillors to delay a decision to give it time to challenge the consultants' findings. Stobart's aviation adviser, Mott MacDonald, claimed the council's consultants have not provided "statistical evidence" to support their claims.

MacDonald said air freight operations would allow Tesco to fly in fruit, vegetables and flowers from Europe and get them to stores quickly, so prolonging shelf life.

Flights from Carlisle would also supply Tesco stores at Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and Douglas, Isle of Man. Flights to supply Tesco stores in Northern Ireland could follow.

MacDonald's report adds: "If the operation to the Isle of Man and Stornway proves a success, Tesco could consider opening up stores in other remote island locations such as Islay, Kirkwall [in the Orkneys] and Lerwick [Shetland] supplied with perishable produce on a frequent basis from Carlisle Airport."

A separate document from Stobart's planning adviser, Scott Wilson, warns that the Eddie Stobart haulage operation at Kingstown, Carlisle, could be lost to the city.

The council has received 105 letters and emails, and six petitions, in support of Stobart's plans, and 67 objections and one petition against the development.

Source: IFW

31st August
Stobart plan for Widnes Freight Park

Stobart Group and developer ProLogis have lodged plans for a massive redevelopment at Stobart Park/3MG in Widnes, Cheshire.

ProLogis has submitted plans for a single rail-served building for storage and distribution purposes totalling 1,180,370 sq ft together with associated infrastructure, parking, open space, landscaping and ancillary development on a 79-acre agricultural site at HBC Fields off Halebank Road in Widnes, while just next door on a similar sized site Stobart Developments is proposing three sheds of 850,000 sq ft, 300,000 sq ft and 210,000 sq ft totalling 1,416,150 sq ft, and a 13.7MWe biomass facility. There is also an outline application for a 278,625 sq ft 12-storey office block with rooftop helicopter pad.

ProLogis has said it could start straight away on its £46m rail freight facility scheme if the council gives it the green light and completion could be as early as autumn 2012.

It has been reported that Stobart Group will look at leasing the warehouse buildings to its customers.

Source: Logistics Manager

31st August
DHL targets solar panel suppliers

DHL is targeting Chinese solar panel makers with a new distribution facility at Moerdijk in The Netherlands.

It is offering an end-to-end logistics service including a combination of air and ocean transport, warehousing, distribution and fiscal services.

Piak-hwee Tan, vice president marketing & sales at DHL Global Forwarding China, said: "It is very important for Chinese companies to have a comprehensive solution for all elements of their supply chain and to have a partner that can respond quickly to changing market conditions."

DHL already serves a number of companies from other energy sectors at Moerdijk. For solar panel customers DHL has a dedicated warehouse area of around 4,000 square metres.

Source: Logistics Manager

29th August
Maiden's go Continental

Shropshire-based truck operator Maiden's of Telford has extended its contract with Continental to supply its tyres for the next year.

Maiden's runs 55 commercial vehicles and 110 tri-axle curtainsider trailers on general haulage throughout the UK, covering roughly 8,000,000km annually, and each truck-trailer combination is fitted with Continental's range of premium tyres.

The firm also uses Continental's 360° ContiBreakdownService and its ContiLifeCycleservice, which reduces costs by up to 25 per cent by regrooving, retreading and regrooving the tyres a second time before disposal.

Source: Logistics Manager

26th August
Royal Mail study backs marketing power of unaddressed mail

Nine out of every ten people in the UK are happy to receive regular unaddressed mail from retailers, according to new research commissioned by Royal Mail.

The study from FreshMinds Research found that door drops from retailers are the most popular among British consumers, followed by the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Of 2008 people surveyed, 81% said they preferred to receive retailer mailings up to twice a month, though a quarter of respondents said they were happy to receive items a few times each week from retailers.

About three in four consumers were happy to receive mailings twice a month promoting consumer goods.

Commenting on the research, Royal Mail also pointed to the "strong cut through" of delivered door drops – 89% of consumers remembered receiving unaddressed mail in the previous two weeks, compared to only 80% recall for television or radio adverts.

Tactile

Philip Ricketts, Royal Mail's Head of Strategy, Marketing and Sales for Door to Door, said the tactile nature of advertising mail made it "highly memorable", particularly compared to screen media.

It also means that relevant advertising and coupons can be retained easily for later use – 45% of those questioned kept leaflets on a pin board or in a kitchen drawer.

Ricketts also pointed to the ability for local advertisers to get through to consumers in their areas via unaddressed mail services.

The survey found that nearly 50% of consumers were happy to receive mail about local services.

"Unaddressed communication is proving to be a particularly import method of delivering information that is locally relevant. It is a form of advertising that is set to play an increasingly important role in local communications with the footprint of local newspapers in decline," said Ricketts.

Royal Mail revealed its own version of a QR code earlier this summer, a system that will allow consumers to access online information via smartphones by scanning a digital watermark on a mailpiece, using a special app called Digital Space.

Source: Royal Mail

26th August
Suzuki awards Ceva 7.9m euro extension

Suzuki has renewed its distribution contract with Ceva in a deal worth 7.9 million euros.

Ceva will to manage the nationwide distribution of aftermarket vehicle and marine parts for a further three years, delivering some two million parts per year.

The operator has been providing dedicated distribution services for Suzuki in the UK since 1994. However in April 2011 Ceva began operating the contract via its specialist automotive network.

Suziki dealers will be provided with a web based system to handle enquiries, dealer warranty and returns tracking. This will use Ceva’s in-cab asset management track and trace system which monitors all transactions and the movement of roll cages, including all returns and reverse logistics, allowing real time visibility.

Wayne Dye, Suzuki’s general manager parts and accessories, said: “During our long standing relationship with Ceva our partnership has evolved in many ways, including the introduction of double deck trailers and sophisticated IT systems. By working with Ceva and its other automotive customers we are joining an established automotive network which will improve cost efficiency and deliver higher service levels for our dealerships.”

Source: Logistics Manager

25th August
K+N Ireland sales growth

Kuehne & Nagel Ireland has reported sales growth of 25pc in one year.

The Dublin Airport based operation, one of Ireland’s largest freight, shipping and logistics companies, produced a pre-tax profit of €4.1m, up from €2.9m in the previous year.

Sales rose to €110m, from €86.3m, with the vast majority of the revenues coming via local Irish operations. The results cover 2010.

Revenues from Ireland rose from €69m to €89m, with the company employing 175 people in the Irish operation.

Kuehne & Nagel Ireland operates at eight locations across the country, offering national and international clients a range of services.

Exports have been identified as the key driver of the Irish economy over the next few years as domestic demand contracts even further.

Source: IFW

25th August
SBS finance director jailed for theft

A former finance director of freight forwarder SBS Worldwide has been jailed for three years after being convicted of stealing £1 million ($1.6 million) from the company.

During a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, UK, Michael Colin Clark, 55, who worked for SBS Worldwide in Dartford, admitted three charges of theft, four of false accounting and one of furnishing false information at his hearing on July 15, 2011.

Clark, from Boughton under Blean, near Canterbury, UK, was the Group Finance Director and had worked for the forwarder since 1994 and held a directorship position since 1997.

He was arrested in September 2010 and charged in February 2011 by Kent Police’s Serious Economic Crime Unit (SECU).

In early 2010, it was found that there was a discrepancy in the company’s Air Miles account. Clark had used this account to pay for personal flights abroad.

Clark had also stolen money from the company’s expense accounts. A forensic accountant firm was appointed by the company and an internal investigation proceeded.

In total, Clark had misappropriated £1,025,457.65 ($1.6 million) between 2001 and 2010. This included expense claims, unauthorised bonuses, director’s accounts, company cheques paying for personal credit cards and cheques made payable to himself.

“He had operated a sophisticated and complex fraud at SBS for a number of years. He had used many different methods to steal funds and cover his tracks,” said a Kent police spokesperson.

The July hearing was told that Clark had sold a home and had been able to repay £750,000 to the company.

SBS’s investigation into the fraud was managed by non-executive director, Geoff Gillo.

SBS Chairman Steve Walker, commented: “The handling of the matter by Geoff Gillo has ensured that the board has been free to concentrate on the on-going development of our diverse business.

“As the fraud related to prior periods, there has been no impact on the financial reserves of the business, which remain strong. We are delighted to be looking forward to continued growth and prosperity and have worked hard to recruit top management to help us build further business success.

“Over the last year, we have invested in strengthening our management team and have established Virtualized Logistics, as we have adapted our business from being trade lane specific to focusing on a supply chain model on three, soon to be four, continents.”

Source: IFW

24th August
Barber takes over as UPS Europe president

UPS has appointed Jim Barber as new president of the UPS Europe Region with responsibility for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Barber has worked 26 years with UPS, most recently as chief operations officer of the Europe Region.

He joined UPS in 1985 as a delivery driver in the United States in Georgia, then was promoted into management later that same year and began moving through a series of accounting and billing positions. In 1993, he was promoted to controller of the West New York District in Buffalo, NY, then transferred to a similar position with the North Illinois District before being promoted again in 1998 to controller coordinator of the West Region.

Barber succeeds Wolfgang Flick in the role, who is retiring after 35 years of service to UPS, and was a "day one" employee of UPS's first expansion beyond North America, when the company launched its German operation in 1976 and he was a centre supervisor in Giessen, Germany.

Source: Logistics Manager

23rd August
Danes discuss night time delivery

A Danish delegation has met with the UK groups behind the Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme, to discuss the introduction of night-time deliveries to Denmark.

The Danish cohort including bread company Lantmännen Schulstad and the Danish Transport Authority, and the Danish equivalent of the FTA, met with various UK groups to learn from the recently completed Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme.

The trials took place in England and were run by the FTA, Noise Abatement Society, Sainsbury's and the Department for Transport, Transport and Travel Research which project managed the research.

The results of the scheme were shared with the Danish visitors to provide an insight into the practicalities, benefits and challenges of delivering goods out-of-hours.

Natalie Chapman, FTA's head of policy for London, said: "There is a strong appetite among the Danes to introduce night-time delivery trials similar to those which we completed earlier this year. The demonstrable environmental, economic and road safety benefits of delivering goods out-of-hours are hard to ignore and we look forward to working with them more closely to help them develop a robust methodology that works for them."

The results were shared by the Noise Abatement Society, Sainsbury's and the Department for Transport, Transport and Travel Research which project managed the research.

Lisa Lavia, managing director of the Noise Abatement Society, said: "Interest in the QDDS trials is growing, with several countries seeking to adapt the scheme locally. We know that if best practice is shared and strict guidelines to protect the rights of residents are adhered to, then night-time deliveries are an efficient and pragmatic solution to a growing problem."

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd August
FedEx opens forwarding offices

Freight forwarder FedEx Trade Networks has opened offices in Munich, Germany; Bucharest, Romania; and Chengdu, China as part of its expansion strategy.

Fred Schardt, president and chief executive of FedEx Trade Networks said: "By continuing to build our infrastructure in the world's most critical growth markets, we are delivering on our commitment to provide what we feel is the most complete portfolio of supply chain solutions in the industry."

The company offers multimodal freight services including tracking and tracing throughout its supply chain, managed control of their goods in transit, customs brokerage, purchase order management, surface transport, warehousing and distribution.

Source: Logistics Manager

19th August
DB Schenker opens way for Continental sized freight trains

DB Schenker has opened the UK to the operation of regular European sized freight trains on High Speed 1, which links the Channel Tunnel with London. Alain Thauvette, chief executive of DB Schenker Rail, said: "This enables significant growth in cross channel rail freight to occur."

The move could result in 15 freight trains a week travelling across Europe to London.

The work to introduce rail freight services onto High Speed 1 has seen extensive testing take place over a five month period. The result is that the larger and higher freight trains that operate across Europe can now be utilised on HS1 from the Channel Tunnel to London, which is the only European sized rail route in the UK

The event was market by the naming of a locomotive at DB Schenker Rail's Channel Tunnel depot at Dollands Moor near Folkestone. Brian Simpson MEP, chair of the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee officially named the locomotive "Marco Polo".

Thauvette said: "We expect to introduce the first of a number of regular services with larger European containers this autumn onto High Speed 1. With the potential of 15 of freight trains a week travelling across Europe to east London, this will help alleviate congestion on the M20 and M25 motorways as goods are moved from road to rail."

The work to introduce rail freight services onto High Speed 1 has been supported by the European Commission's Marco Polo programme. "Europe needs goods to move quickly and seamlessly across countries to get to markets, and reliable pan-European rail freight services are a key component to achieving that.," said Simpson.

Source: Logistics Manager

18th August
Home delivery key to Asda Christmas

Supermarket giant Asda plans to take on more temporary staff for its home delivery operations in the run-up to Christmas.

The retailer has set out plans to invest £5m in customer services and create 7,000 jobs for the Christmas period.

New roles will include home delivery, shop floor and customer service staff. Asda will also be offering 750,000 hours overtime to existing staff.

Earlier this year Asda opened a semi-automated fulfilment centre dedicated to its online channel to help support future growth.

Source: Logistics Manager

17th August
DHL inundated by job applications at Morrisons DC

DHL has received more than 5,000 applications for posts at the new Morrisons distribution centre in Bridgewater after the vacancies were advertised in the local media 11 weeks ago.

However, there are only a total of 350 roles currently available. Once the facility is fully operational up to 600 more roles are expected to be created with DHL looking to recruit locally wherever possible.

Other vacancies may be advertised later in the year should positions become available.

The Bridgwater distribution centre will provide goods to more than 60 stores in the South West and Wales and streamline the delivery of services to customer across the region.

"We¹re not only delighted by the high number of applicants from the Bridgwater area, but by their sheer enthusiasm ­ some having walked the entire length of Bridgwater to attend their interview," said Bob Tanner, operations director, DHL Supply Chain.

"We are still in the early stages of recruitment but are hopeful that a large percentage of the successful applicants will come from Bridgwater and the wider Sedgemoor area."

Neal Austin, group logistics and supply chain director for Morrisons, added: "I am pleased to hear that there has been such a high level of interest in the variety of jobs that will become available at the distribution centre, particularly from those local to the area."

Source: Logistics Manager

16th August
£40m Telefónica contract extension for DHL

O2 parent Telefónica UK has extended its contract with DHL Supply Chain for a three years in a deal worth £40 million.

Nick Lefever, head of business operations at Telefónica UK, said: "The range of innovative services that DHL has implemented and its clear understanding of our company objectives were key to our extending the contract."

The communications operator, which uses O2 as its commercial brand, uses DHL's distribution services for its mobile devices, SIM cards, modems and other accessories. DHL will provide product and package customisation, and reverse logistics services for managing and processing returns and recycling. The agreement also includes second line customer service covering retailers' enquiries and operational support for Telefónica's supply chain activities.

DHL has already implemented a proprietary labour management system, called Premis for Telefónica. It reckons that site productivity has improved by 25 per cent over the last 12 months.

Source: Logistics Manager

16th August
30pc profit rise for Ceva

Ceva Logistics has posted a 30 per cent rise in first half EBITDA to 152 million euros, after winning new business worth one billion euros. First half sales were up five per cent to 3.4bn euros.

In line with market trends, the group saw some softening of the global freight market, driven mainly by lower airfreight volumes predominantly in the Americas and Asia Pacific regions.

Chief financial officer Rubin McDougal said that by managing margins Ceva was able to maintain flat year-on-year revenues, at constant exchange rates. To this end Ceva also increased its freight management business wins by 17 per cent year-on-year, with new business across all regions and particularly in the technology, automotive and energy sectors.

Sales in the Contract Logistics business were up nine per cent year-on-year at constant exchange rates. This growth was experienced in all regions, driven by new contract wins and the continued expansion of services offered to existing customers.

John Pattullo, chief executive said: "Despite the industry-wide softening of freight volumes, we have increased freight management business with our global customers and we have experienced growth in our contract logistics business in all regions. Our new business performance in the period has been excellent with significant wins and contract extensions."

IN the second quarter, the group also limited its net working capital and which is now 19m euros compared to 57m euros at the end of quarter two 2010.

The group's future plans are to continue growth, specifically investing for growth in China.

Source: Logistics Manager

16th August
Wincanton exits continental logistics market

Wincanton is selling all its remaining continental businesses to German group Rhenus for £38 million (44m euros). Rhenus will also take over responsibility for a pension deficit of £26m (30m euros).

The operations comprise Wincanton's German intermodal and contract logistics businesses, which operate from 38 locations, and Wincanton's businesses in France, which provide contract logistics and transport services and operate from 30 locations.

In the year to 31 March, these businesses generated sales of some 558m euros and, and operating profit of £3.6 million (4.1m euros). They employ approximately 3,000 employees who will transfer to Rhenus upon completion.

The deal is subject to the approval by Wincanton's shareholders. Proceeds will be used to reduced the group's debts. The group reported a net debt of £152m in 2011. Although this is lower than at the height of the recession in 2009, it is still more than double the £66m figure in 2007.

Wincanton chief Eric Born said: "The sale of our remaining businesses in mainland Europe to Rhenus will enable us to focus on developing our leading position in the UK market, where we have greater scale and see significant potential for profitable growth.

"Rhenus has a strong reputation in the European market and the addition of these businesses to its portfolio will build on its leading position in intermodal services and contract logistics. Over the next few weeks, we will work together to ensure that service levels to our customers are maintained during the transition period. I would like to personally thank all of my colleagues in these businesses for their hard work and contribution to Wincanton over the years," he said.

Rhenus said the purchase would build on its product portfolio in continental Europe, especially in the port logistics and contract logistics business areas.

"The integration of Rhenus and Wincanton on the European mainland will enable Rhenus to enhance its range of business services and provide both existing and future customers with better solutions to their logistics challenges."

The Rhenus Group has an annual turnover of 3 billion euros and employs 18,000 people at more than 290 locations worldwide.

Source: Logistics Manager

15th August
Freight director for Network Rail

Network Rail has appointed Tim Robinson to a new role as director of freight.

Robinson is currently managing director of infrastructure investor, GIS and interim commercial director at GB Railfreight.

He will be responsible for developing the network for freight and managing customer relationships with freight operators. He will also work with Network Rail's strategy team to help plan further developments for the network.

Robin Gisby, managing director of network operations, said: "As Network Rail devolves decision making to its routes, it is crucial that the national freight industry receives strong management focus at the centre. That is why we have created this role and why we have appointed someone with Tim's skills and experience.

"Britain relies on rail freight and volumes are predicted to grow by as much as 140 per cent in the next 20 years."

Source: Logistics Manager

12th August
Hellmann opens fourth office in Ukraine

Hellmann East Europe has opened an office at Borispol airport near Kiev in the Ukraine – its fourth site in the country.

The office provides airfreight handling, customs clearance, warehousing, picking and transport. It also has a customs brokerage licence.

Source: Logistics Manager

11th August
Molson Coors cuts transport mileage

Brewer Molson Coors has cut almost half a million miles off its road transport in the UK and Ireland, according to the group's corporate responsibility report.

The company's brands include Carling, Cobra, Worthington's, and Miller Lite as well as Coors and Molson.

The group said the savings in road transport equated to 600,000 kilos of CO2. In addition, it said waste improvements had saved 1,348 tonnes of waste to landfill in the last year; equivalent to the waste from 428 homes in one year.

The aim is to to divert all production waste away from landfill for each of its four UK breweries by the end of 2012.

Examples of moves in this direction include:

Waste from Sharp's brewery in Rock, Cornwall is given to farmers. A dairy herd local to the Rock brewery eats 30 tonnes of spent grain every week, a pig farm takes five tonnes of the protein rich excess yeast, and Cornish beef cows drink up to 30 litres of waste beer a week.

The Tadcaster brewery uses an anaerobic digestion system, which treats wastewater to a high standard for disposal, generating biogas as a co-product.

In addition, a redesigned UK beer bottle will result in reduced overall packaging weight by 4,500 tons or 13 per cent of annual shipped product weight since its debut in 2006.

Globally, Molson Coors has joined Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange), a membership organisation for businesses committed to continuous improvement of the ethical performance of their supply chains. Over the next three years the target is to roll out Sedex to its top 100 suppliers.

Source: Logistics Manager

10th August
Laithwaites picks City Link for £3m contract

Laithwaites, the internet wine retailer, has awarded a £3m contract to City Link to deliver wine from its Gloucester distribution centre.

The shipments account for almost one-third of the volume of Laithwaites wine business. Laithwaites will use the 48 hour service as standard with next day delivery being offered to customers as an option.

Carrier operations manager Lee Andreas said: "The improvements in technology which City Link has introduced over the last couple of years have given us the opportunity to enhance our customer service offering. Additionally the new MyCityLink service gives us a much higher level of visibility than would normally be experienced in the market: it is a superior service."

Laithwaites was founded in 1969 when Tony Laithwaite bought a Ford van to bring wines back from France. Called 'Bordeaux Direct', the original business had just five wines on the list and only 150 customers.

The company now retails direct to the public as Laithwaites Wine, Sunday Times Wine Club and a number of corporate wine clubs. It despatches more than three million deliveries a year.

Source: Logistics Manager

9th August
JCB contract win for DHL

DHL has taken a 142,000 sq ft warehouse at Fradley Park near Lichfield to service a new contract with JCB, the industrial machinery manufacturer.

The building, named Hawk, will be used as parts distribution centre. The new contract – which has fuelled the letting – reflects strong results at JCB, with the company recently announcing a recruitment programme to take on 80 engineers, and deals to supply a total of over 800 machines.

DHL has taken the building on a five year lease at a rent of £4.50 per sq ft.

JCB, which is based at Rocester near Uttoxeter, reported a 48 per cent rise in sales to £2bn for 2010. As a result of the return to growth, the company is investing in facilities around the world including a £63m factory in Brazil and a £19m engine plant in India.

IN a second deal at Fradley Park, the Amethyst Group, which already occupies a 111,300 sq ft unit at Fradley Park, has competed a new five year lease on a new 102,174 sq ft unit named Falcon. The significant expansion is a sign of the company's continued success in the retail sector, with customers such as New Look.

Nicholas Mehangra, asset manager at F&C REIT said: "DHL and Amethyst Group both secured existing units and as a result both were able to gear up their operations very quickly, creating many new jobs in the process."

Tesni Thacker, associate in GVA's Industrial department, said: "It is great that we are seeing an increase in demand across the region from both the automotive/logistics and retail sector, particularly given the difficult time that these industries have faced over the last few years."

Source: Logistics Manager

9th August
Dentressangle in reverse logistics partnership

Norbert Dentressangle has formed a partnership with asset recovery specialist Bakers Basco to offer customers a recovery service to help minimise the loss of returnable transit packaging in the supply chain, including plastic trays and buckets, dollies and roll cages.

Baker's Basco manages a pool of more than three million trays which are used by bakers including Allied Bakers, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons, Hovis and Warburtons to deliver bread to their customers.

It employs a national asset recovery team to locate misappropriated equipment and uses negotiation, education, collection and enforcement to repatriate assets and recover losses. To date, the division has undertaken 13,000 cases and recovered 2,000,000 units.

Dentressangle washes more than 350 million trays a year and is responsible for recycling over 500,000 tonnes of card and plastic. Richard Cawston, director of Norbert Dentressangle's Consumer Business Unit said: "Replacing returnable transit packaging which has been lost through abuse or theft costs retailers millions of pounds every year, with large numbers of trays and other equipment being misappropriated for unauthorised use."

Source: Logistics Manager

9th August
Metal extension for Palletways

Simpson Strong-Tie, a manufacturer of metal work for the construction industry, has awarded a two year distribution contract to Palletways.

Palletways Birmingham in Lichfield, and Palletways Scotland in Edinburgh will provide warehousing and pick and pack services for the manufacturer's product lines for delivery across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Palletways has worked for the manufacturer for six years. It expects that the contract will cover some 2,000 pallets per month.

Source: Logistics Manager

8th August
Ocado expands delivery network with new site

Online grocer Ocado is to open a distribution depot at Stanford-in-the-Vale which lies halfway between Oxford and Swindon - its third new regional distribution site this year.

It has acquired a 43,000 sq ft on a 2.3-acre site on the White Horse Business Park which will be used as a regional spoke to distribute 10,000 orders per week, using 65 vans at peak capacity.

The new facility will create up to 170 new jobs in the White Horse site, and follows recent acquisitions in the south of the country, in Bristol, Wimbledon and Welwyn.

Ian Starling, head of delivery service projects at Ocado, said: "The Oxfordshire spoke will be Ocado's third new regional distribution site this year when it opens in November. We are committed to growing, creating jobs, and delivering top-draw service to more and more customers."

Ocado were advised by Colliers International and the site has been acquired on an effective freehold basis – a long-leasehold with the option to acquire the freehold for a nominal sum.

Source: Logistics Manager

5th August
Wincanton invest £4.2m in construction fleet

Wincanton has invested £4.2m adding 27 new vehicles to its dedicated construction fleet.

This investment follows the addition of 20 new curtain-sided teardrop trailers that were introduced earlier this year in partnership with Lafarge.

The vehicles will be used to carry loads of building materials from bricks, to tiles and aggregates for a range of customers in the construction sector.

Wincanton managing director Chris Kingshott said: "This investment reflects our commitment to the construction sector and follows a recent 27 per cent growth in volumes from our customers.

Source: Logistics Manager

5th August
£85m House of Fraser extension with DHL

House of Fraser has awarded an £85 million five year contract extension to DHL Supply Chain, to manage its supply chain within the UK.

DHL Supply Chain's fashion division will continue to support House of Fraser's growth by providing supply chain services from a refurbished 245,000 sq ft facility in Wellingborough, Northants. This will open this month.

Mark Holland, supply chain director for House of Fraser said: "Our lasting partnership with DHL Supply Chain has seen through a seamless transition to our new site in Wellingborough… The DHL team's knowledge and experience of our business was a key factor in their appointment to carry out this project."

Paul Richardson, managing director of DHL Supply Chain's fashion division said: "We are very pleased to continue our relationship with House of Fraser, particularly as the company expands its online sales footprint. The multi-channel space is one where our considerable experience will undoubtedly help support House of Fraser's future growth plans."

Source: Logistics Manager

4th August
Gregory Distribution buys Welsh operator

Gregory Distribution has acquired Dylan Thomas International, a refrigerated transport business based in west Wales for an undisclosed sum.

The Fishguard based business specialises in chilled distribution including potato products for Puffin Produce and poultry for Capestone Organic Poultry.

Gregory chief executive John Gregory said: "Dylan Thomas has been handling some of our chilled distribution for some time. The acquisition adds value to our current operation while allowing us to expand into Wales and to seek new business opportunities.

"The deal increases GDL's network nationwide with business units in the South West of England, Scotland and now Wales."

The deal means further geographical expansion for Devon-based Gregory which 18 months ago formed a joint venture in Scotland with Hayton Coulthard – the family firm of racing driver David Coulthard.

Dylan Thomas will remain with the business as transport manager. The other employees will also transfer to Gregory. Thomas said: "Gregory is a business with a very strong reputation for its standards of customer care. This is one of the key reasons why we wanted to be involved with them."

Huw Thomas, managing director of Puffin Produce said: "We are delighted for Dylan Thomas especially as Dylan himself will remain running the business in West Wales providing us with valuable continuity going forward. We are also pleased to be working with Gregory Distribution whose network of contacts and depth of resource may well provide new routes to market for us."

And Justin Scale, managing director, of Capestone said: "We have had a very successful working relationship with Dylan Thomas and look forward to working with Gregory and benefiting from their established operational skills and depth of resource and so further enhancing the service we provide to our customers."

Source: Logistics Manager

3rd August
Profits double at DHL Supply Chain

Operating profit more than doubled at DHL Supply Chain in the second quarter rising from 53m euros to 115m euros.

Parent group Deutsche Post DHL said the significant improvement was supported by strict, cost management and the gain on the disposal of a US subsidiary. In addition, the previous year's result contained restructuring expenses of 17m euros.

In April, Deutsche Post DHL sold Exel Transport Services to Chicago-based Hub Group for $83m. ETS, which provides agent-based intermodal and truck brokerage services, has been renamed Mode Transport.

Sales fell 3.4 per cent to 3.2bn euros. However, the group said this was down to to negative exchange-rate effects and the sale of the US subsidiary that was not part of the division's core business. Excluding these effects, revenue would have climbed by 6.1 per cent.

The Express division moved back into profit with an EBIT of 244m euros compared to a loss of 30m euros in the second quarter of 2010. The group said "In addition to revenue and volume growth as well as systematic cost management, the successfully completed restructuring measures played a major role in this increase. During the same period last year, these measures resulted in non-recurring expenses in an amount of EUR 228 million."

EBIT in the Global Forward and Freight division were up 13.1 per cent to 112m euros on sales up 3.6 per cent to 3.7bn euros.

Sales in the Mail division were stable but operating profit was down as a result of discounts being offered to customers following the imposition of value added tax in July 2010. EBIT was 25 per cent down on last year at 183m euros.

The group is now projecting a full year operating profit of 1.6-1.7bn euros for DHL, while for the group as a whole it is looking for an operating profit of 2.2-2.4bn euros.

Chief executive Frank Appel said: "The second quarter once more proves the quality and sustainable nature of the efficiency gains we have achieved over recent years."

"We remain confident concerning our future business development, also against the backdrop of a more normalised level of global economic activity."

Source: Logistics Manager

3rd August
Rising fuel price adds £1.3bn to operators' costs

Road freight operators have had to find an additional £1.3 billion over a 12-month period to cover the rising cost of fuel, the Freight Transport Association calculates.

Diesel has risen by 12p to 111.21pence per litre in the year to July 2011 pushing up the cost of fuelling a 44 tonner by £5,700.

However, the FTA reckons that the Fair Fuel campaign saved the industry about £625m in tax.

With the cost of fuel having risen steadily in the last year and the impending fuel duty rise of over 3ppl looming large for January, industry is again feeling anxious about an uncertain future.

It is now gearing up to fight plans for a 3ppl duty rise in January. FTA policy chief James Hookham said: "Many companies in the logistics sector are approaching a tipping point and simply cannot afford to absorb the high fuel costs that they are facing.

"The Government could help by deferring the duty increases planned for January and making further cuts in duty rates now. It wants to know what it can do to help growth in the economy – here is our number one ask."

Source: Logistics Manager

2nd August
Demand for out of hours parcel service rising

Collect+ says people are increasingly using its service to send and receive parcels outside working hours.

It reports a 19 per cent increase in parcels being sent and received outside normal business hours in May 2011, compared to October 2010. Some 41 per cent of traqnsactions take place when post offices are closed.

Collect+ operates through a network of 3,900 corner shops. Chief executive Mark Lewis, CEO said: "The way we shop has fundamentally changed, with people now expecting to be able to access their favourite store online whenever they like. It logically follows that consumers also need to be able to collect items and return deliveries outside the old-fashioned nine to five trading day. Our customer insight on the service supports this, with many shoppers coming to us for the choice and convenience that the Post Office sadly lacks."

Source: Logistics Manager

1st August
Asda chooses Norbert for recycling contract

Asda has renewed its contract with Norbert Dentressangle for the management of eight Asda Service Centres for a further five years.

The service centres handle returnable transit packaging, card, plastic, food waste and returned goods from more than 400 Asda stores throughout the UK. Returnable transit packaging and waste is collected by Asda's vehicles and delivered to the service centres on the return leg. Returnable items are then processed for collection and re-used by Asda and its suppliers.

Asda's distribution director, Ian Stansfield said: "This new five year agreement with Norbert Dentressangle demonstrates our continued ambition to be environmentally sustainable across Distribution and the wider business. NDL have partnered ASDA in our ASC operations since 2002 and have helped us to reduce our operating cost at the same time as supporting our sustainable aspirations."

Norbert Dentressangle was originally appointed to manage the network in 2002 and is responsible for all activities within the centres, including equipment washing, packaging waste baling and equipment sortation.

The operation employs around 650 people. It currently handles more than 126 million trays and recycles more than 170,000 tonnes of card and plastic and 30,000 tonnes of food waste each year. Following Asda's recent integration of 147 Netto stores, it is anticipated that volumes through the service centre network will increase by around five to ten per cent.

Source: Logistics Manager

29th July
Rentokil rises 4% despite continuing problems at City Link

Investors in Rentokil Initial have had a bumpy ride in recent times, but following a trading update the ratcatcher to cleaning services group is heading in the right direction.

Its shares have added 4.35p to 94.65p despite the company announcing a 6.8% drop in first half profits to £70.9m. Its textiles and pest control businesses showed revenue growth but - as has been the story for a while now - its City Link parcels delivery division continues to struggle. Revenues at the parcels business fell 13.5% - but apparently this has stabilised - which knocked 1.8% off group revenues.

Chief executive Alan Brown said he was encouraged by the overall performance in a difficult market, and said City Link should show an improved year on year performance in the fourth quarter. But he also pointed to price pressures elsewhere, although the company's cost cutting programme was on track. Analyst Tony Shepard at Charles Stanley stuck with his accumulate rating on the shares, saying:

The group is more than half way through its five-year turnaround plan and there remains much more to do and achieve. In 2011, we estimate a group pre-tax profit of £200m and earnings per share of 8.2p. This gives a prospective PE of about 11 times. In 2012, there should be a good uplift in profitability if City Link delivers and the rest of the group moves forward which could reduce the PE to 9.5 times.

Mike Allen at Panmure Gordon was less positive:

Our target price of 100p remains unchanged and continues to look undemanding. This is also below our sum of the parts valuation, which ascribes zero value to City Link. However, until positive catalysts come through that will drive an improved performance at group levels, we believe the shares are likely to remain undervalued in the near term and therefore maintain a neutral stance for now.

Source: Guardian

29th July
Norbert sales rise

Norbert Dentressangle's sales rose 22 per cent in the first half to 1,706 million euros reflecting the consolidation of TDG from 1st April as well as organic growth of 6.6 per cent.

Logistics revenue grew 21.9 per cent to 730m euros. On a like-for-like basis, logistics revenue was up 4.3 per cent in H1 2011, continuing the organic growth trend observed in the first quarter.

Transport revenue was up 17.7 per cent to 967m euros. The impact of higher diesel fuel prices on selling prices was around 2.5 per cent.

Freight forwarding sales were 32m euros – up from 2m euros last year reflecting the acquisitions of the Schneider and TDG forwarding businesses.

Chief executive François Bertreau said: "Our transport and logistics activities in the UK have maintained a very satisfactory growth and profitability trend during this first half year. Since 1st April 2011, former TDG activities are consolidated and the operating integration is on track."

Source: Logistics Manager

28th July
Catering supplies via City Link

Catering supplier Mitchell & Cooper has selected City Link to provide its MyCityLink service to deliver and track its products.

It sends out around 300 consignments a week to businesses, consisting of catering and bar supplies from its Bonzer brand, including food portioners, cup dispensers to spirit measures.

Darren Babb, commercial manager, said: "In our line of work, delivering our products to schools, hospitals, prisons, restaurants and hotels, deliveries can be very critical and urgent."

Source: Logistics Manager

28th July
Tesco plans Reading RDC

Tesco is submitting plans for a 700,000 sq ft distribution warehouse on the 58-acre former Courage Brewery site at Worton Grange in Whitley, Reading, Berkshire.

The site overlooks the motorway just off the A33 and the M4 junction 11. And will be constructed to the highest environmental standards.

Tesco subsidiary Spen Hill Developments intends to put in a planning application to Reading and Wokingham councils imminently.

The company hopes to open the new depot within a year if all goes to plan.

It says 1,000 jobs will be created at the depot, including 100 managerial jobs and 150 construction jobs.

There will also be jobs for warehouse staff, drivers, supervisors, catering and maintenance, with shifts available over a 24-hour period.

Source: Logistics Manager

28th July
Hermes expansion plans

Hermes has opened a new northern distribution hub in Warrington and is enhancing its depot network with an additional location in Crawley, West Sussex, and an expanded site in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

The developments are designed to enable Hermes to deliver key service benefits to customers and support the company's growth strategy moving forward.

The northern distribution hub is located at the Warrington South Distribution Park and provides 100,000 sq ft of warehousing space. The Crawley depot will increase Hermes' network to 20 UK sites when it becomes operational in September this year, creating 34 new jobs.

The 45,000 sq ft facility provides excellent access to the M23 and M25 motorways and will handle forecasted parcel volume expansion in the south east of England as a result of increased business from a number of new and existing clients.

Meanwhile, Hermes is relocating to a new site at Vector 31 Business Park in Rotherham as a result of recent business growth. The 35,600 sq ft warehouse will replace an existing smaller depot in the region and was selected due to the facility's quality and layout as well as the ease of access to the motorway network.

Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes in the UK commented: "These latest improvements to our hub and depot infrastructure mean we possess the necessary capacity within our network to achieve our future growth plans and are well prepared to handle high volumes during the forthcoming peak period."

Source: Logistics Manager

27th July
Stobart battles for Carlisle logistics facility

Stobart is urging local businesses to write to Carlisle Council to support its plans for a 394,000 sq ft freight distribution centre and resurfaced runway at Carlisle Airport.

The council was going to turn down the proposal following a report by its aviation consultants that said the scheme would not provide the stated benefits. Stobart disagrees.

Stobard now has until 18th August to go through the report and discuss it with the council.

The local paper reported that Carlisle council received 62 objections and 67 representations of support for Stobart's plans.

Source: Logistics Manager

26th July
Tesco trials lithium-ion pallet truck

Tesco is set to trial Jungheinrich's first lithium-ion powered pallet truck, the EJE112i.

The truck, which was launched at CeMat earlier this year, will soon be in operation at one of the supermarket giant's main distribution centres.

Richard Ash, Tesco's corporate purchasing manager, said: "As a company, Tesco is taking up the environmental challenge and is striving to reduce carbon emissions across the business.

"With its low energy consumption, we believe that the new Jungheinrich EJE112i truck could play a significant role in helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across our materials handing fleet."

Tesco already operates a fleet of Jungheinrich powered pallet trucks in the UK, along with other Jungheinrich materials handling equipment throughout its global distribution operation.

Source: Logistics Manager

26th July
Extra depot for ELB

ELB Partners of Wimbledon in London has opened a second depot in Purfleet, Essex.

Steve Eason, joint managing director, said: "This bold move comes at a time of financial instability and rising costs in the haulage industry, but was absolutely crucial to continue to provide the extremely high service levels that our customers demand and receive, and will assist us to continue to expand at the current rate with our ever increasing portfolio of customers."

ELB's workforce has grown from 16 employees to more than 60 in the past five years, and its fleet currently stands at 43 vehicles, with more on order.

ELB joined the pallet network Pallet Track in 2004 to improve its offerings, and because the network's members are its shareholders.

Source: Logistics

25th July
Coca-Cola Enterprises invests £1.75m in biomethane fleet

Coca-Cola Enterprises is to invest £1.75 million in a fleet of 14 dedicated Iveco biomethane heavy goods vehicles during the course of 2011, following recent trials.

The vehicles will be used in the London area and will transport all products into Olympic venues during and prior to the games next year.

The company will also be investing in the refuelling infrastructure to operate the vehicles, which will be based in Enfield, north London.

Tests have revealed that biomethane can generate carbon savings of more than 50 per cent compared to conventional diesel, according to CCE.

Wendy Manning, customer logistics director at CCE, said: "Reducing the carbon used by our own fleet and by our third party hauliers is a key objective for CCE – we put about 200,000 loads per year onto the roads of Great Britain and so we believe we can make a real difference.

"All of our hopes on the environmental benefits of biomethane were easily achieved during the trial."

The move is part of a wider initiative to reduce environmental impact which is detailed in the company's Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report 2010/11, which was published today (22nd July 2011). CCE is set to invest tens of millions of pounds implementing projects to fulfil these commitments.

The company has pledged to reduce carbon emissions across its direct business by 15 per cent by 2020 against a 2007 baseline.

So far, the absolute amount is down by 5.5 per cent, while the business is still growing.

Transport accounts for 11 per cent of all carbon emissions, so CCE is working on its own vehicles and those of its 3PLs to bring this figure down further.

It is currently working with its partners on backhauling operations. Last year 9,000 deliveries were made using vehicles that otherwise would have been empty. Joe Franses, head of corporate responsibility and sustainability, said: "We can only do that because we collaborate."

CCE is also looking at its refrigeration units to bring down carbon emissions. Previously it had used open coolers within the market place but it is revisiting these and retrofitting them with doors – half of which have now been done – which can reduce energy by 50 per cent.

CCE cut 476,000 tonnes of carbon from its business in 2010, but Franses says it is equally important to cut the carbon footprint across its wider supply chain, including everything down to the ingredients, which is what it is starting to focus on now.

He said: "We certainly don't have all the answers… but collaboration is key now and will be even more so into the future."

Last year CCE's water ratio was 1.36 litres per litre of drink produced, which is a 12 per cent reduction since 2007, and according to managing director Simon Baldry this is one of the lowest performance ratios in the Coca-Cola system.

He said: "We must look beyond the walls of our business though and look at the total water supply chain."

For packaging and waste, CCE has committed to zero manufacturing waste. Five of its six key manufacturing sites now have zero waste to landfill and 99.9 per cent is recycled.

Some 97 per cent of its packaging is now recyclable and CCE has established 130 Recycle Zones across the UK, exceeding its original target of 80 zones.

CCE sells more than four billion bottles and cans in the UK each year and has a 28.1 per cent share of the UK soft drinks market, according to Nielsen. The company has 22 manufacturing, distribution and office sites across the country and 95 per cent of its suppliers are based in the UK.

Other than Coca-Cola its brands include Innocent smoothies, Schweppes, Fanta and Ocean Spray.

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd July
Wincanton weathers tough trading conditions

Trading conditions remain challenging for Wincanton, with container volumes down, and closure of long term customer Focus DIY.

But it said trading performance was in line with its expectations, in its interim management statement, which covers the period from 1st April to 21st July.

Wincanton secured a number of renewals in the period, including operations for B&Q and Procter & Gamble. It also won contracts such as for Forticrete and Jack Wills.

Its European business started the year well it says it is developing more potential business.

The sale of the three European businesses, announced at the time of its preliminary results in June 2011, is progressing.

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd July
Selex Elsag wins DHL contract

DHL express has awarded Selex Elsag a contract to create a sorting system for its logistics hub at Carpiano near Milan.

It will be is based on a single 700m multi-sorter parcel handling system cross-belt sorter. The sorter covers the entire operational area of the hub, around 139, 930 sq ft. It consists of nearly a mile of conveyer belts with 90 telescopic roller units.

The new system will sort 20,000 items per hour for more than 100 destinations.

The project is due to be completed in March 2012.

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd July
K+N to buy Dutch perishables firm

Kuehne+Nagel is to buy J van de Put Fresh Cargo Handling, a Dutch distributor of perishable goods.

Karl Gernandt, chairman of Kuehne + Nagel, said: "This acquisition follows our global expansion strategy in the field of perishables logistics.

"Our customers will benefit from temperature controlled door-to-door logistics solutions for perishable goods that require highly specialised handling know-how."

The Amsterdam based firm handles perishable airfreight cargo such as flowers, plant cuttings, fruits, vegetables, and facilitates logistics and customs processes for import and export shipments. It also offers services including vacuum cooling, temperature controlled storage, as well as delivery and distribution across Europe. J va

n de Put is a family based company that was founded in 1976.

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd July
Small distribution companies hardest hit by late payments

Small and medium-sized businesses in the distribution sector are being forced to wait 50 days beyond agreed terms before they are paid – ten days more than the national average, according to research by Bacs, the organisation behind Direct Debit.

The research also found that distribution firms are owed £7.9 billion in total, with individual companies owed £39,000 on average, more than any other industry sector.

It reckons that 53 per cent of distribution SMEs have experienced late payments and nearly a third now employ a dedicated member of staff to chase payments.

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd July
On the move…

SBS Worldwide makes Hubbard director

Freight forwarder SBS Worldwide has appointed Gary Hubbard group business development director. He moves from Geodis Calberson where he was UK logistics director.

Hubbard has also worked for DHL, Damco, GeoPost UK and Norbert Dentressangle.

He is now responsible for delivering SBS's strategic business plan across the operating sites in North America, China, the UK and the emerging economies. His role will focus on supporting SBS's entry into new countries and industry verticals as well as promoting the new supply chain consulting arm of SBS, called Virtualized Logistics.

Wilks promoted at Palletways

Palletways has made Sacha Wilks general manager for Palletways London.

Wilks has 12 years' experience of the logistics sector, and joined Palletways in 2006.

In the new position Wilks will lead the operations, sales and customer service teams to drive further business growth and develop the skills of staff.

Heath becomes Clugston general manager

David Heath has been appointed general manager at Clugston Distribution Services, the logistics arm of privately owned Clugston Group.

He will develop new business opportunities and consolidate and strengthen the company's existing revenue streams.

Oliver Wight hires Ducie and Gray

Oliver Wight has taken on Paul Ducie from BP and Mike Gray from Georgia-Pacific as consultants.

Ducie has held a number of senior regional and global roles in sales, marketing & technology, finance and business leadership. He has experience across B2B and B2B2C sectors, including industrial, marine, energy and aviation.

Gray has almost thirty years manufacturing experience in operational supply chain and consultancy roles, working for a number of food, FMCG and engineering companies. He was most recently an interim manager, supporting changes and improving master scheduling in a range of industries.

Swissport hires Hermann

Aviation services firm Swissport International, has hired Roman Hermann as its executive vice president for business development effective 1st October, 2011.

Hermann joins Swissport from ABB Asea Brown Boveri, where he has been managing mergers & acquisitions projects since more than three years. Prior to that he was head of valuations at KPMG Switzerland.

Source: Logistics Manager

21st July
MoD extends Wincanton deal

The Ministry of Defence has renewed its contract with Wincanton for the UK distribution of bulk aviation fuels to UK air bases and marine vessels, for a further three years.

As a new part of the contract, fuel is ordered directly from Wincanton, and delivered to over 25 sites across the UK for use in training missions for aircraft such as the RAF Tornado.

Wincanton delivers over 85 million litres of fuel per year for the MoD, which is equivalent to almost 2,500 vehicle loads.

Chris Kingshott, managing director of Wincanton, said: "We are very pleased to see our relationship with the MoD going from strength to strength. We take pride in offering our customers the most efficient logistics solution we can, and have developed further flexibility in our services for the MoD, adding value to their operations. We look forward to working with them for another three years."

Source: Logistics Manager

20th July
Audi opens 34m euro logistics centre

German car maker Audi has invested 34 million euros in a new logistics centre for parts at Neckarsulm.

The company said the many production starts and numerous model variations had nearly doubled the number of small load carriers in Neckarsulm since 2008, and that would continue to increase. An average of 1,300 containers will be handled each hour in the new automated small load carrier storage facility, known as the AKL.

The new logistics centre was built on a 12,000 sq m area in the east section of the company premises. Construction of the new Hall A10 began in September 2009 and operations have been ramping up since October 2010.

The central incoming goods department for the entire site is now located at the edge of the premises. There, truck drivers unlock the gate with a chip and drive into a secure area that contains four parking spaces for unloading. 12 experienced employees at three control stations inspect the incoming goods, enter the new items or file claims for any incorrect deliveries.

Four robots lift most of the containers that need to be stored from the pallets directly onto the conveyor belt. The remaining material is received by the logistics technicians on adjustable lifting tables.

Andrea Barth, head of the new AKL centre, said: "The employees used to have to place the containers into the shelves by hand. Today the workflow is much more ergonomic and more productive as well."

The small containers, which might contain items such as control units, are stored by fully automated loops in the 19.5-metre high-bay racking units until they are needed. 15 fully automated rack feeders drive up to the 160,000 storage slots.

The containers remain there for several days and are removed according to the first in, first out principle. "The equipment is intelligent; it stores containers of the same stock at various locations so that if complications arise, there is no interruption in production," Barth said.

Source: Logistics Manager

20th July
Next day service for Isle of Wight.

Bournemouth-based transport firm Shears Bros has launched a next day service for the Isle of Wight.

The company says it is responding to demand from its customers and from its fellow Pall-Ex members to offer a more frequent, rapid and reliable service for the island.

Ian Shears, director, said: "Over the past month, 28 per cent of consignments we received required a next day delivery, so the implication is that there definitely is a demand and that depots are taking advantage of this new service."

Shears has two bookings for sailing daily with Wightlink Ferries, and the next day service will be available for all deliveries from single full, half, quarter and Euro pallets through to multi-pal consignments.

Source: Logistics Manager

19th July
Operating profit rises at K+N

Kuehne + Nagel saw operating profit (EBITDA) rise by 5.7 per cent (currency adjusted) to CHF 502 million (£382m) in the first half of 2011, while sales at CHF 9,786m (£7,440m) were slightly down on last year owing to negative currency effects.

Alongside its results, the company announced the purchase of Grupo Eichenberg, an integrated logistics operator based at Porto Alegre in Brazil. Grupo Eichenberg employs some 700 staff at 14 locations making it a leading player in the road logistics sector. It operates daily services to and from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay as well as operating a domestic airfreight forwarding service.

Contract Logistics
K+N's first half sales in contract logistics rose currency adjusted by 5.4 per cent. New businesses and the consolidation of warehousing activities at major logistics centres supported the enhancement of capacity utilisation to 94 per cent. Productivity improvements meant that the EBITDA margin remained on the previous year's level.

Seafreight
Seafreight volumes were up 12 per cent in the first half of the year. Highest growth was achieved in exports from Europe to North America and Asia as well as from Asia to Latin America and the Middle East. EBITDA margin in relation to gross profit improved from 34.5 to 35.2 per cent, – a record high as a result of cost efficiency and increased volumes.

Airfreight
Airfreight tonnage by 18 per cent, despite falling volumes in the global airfreight market during the second quarter. EBITDA-to-gross profit margin improved from 29.2 per cent to 32.6 per cent.

Road & Rail Logistics
The extension of activities in the groupage, full load and part load businesses led currency adjusted to a 21.4 per cent rise in net invoiced turnover. RH Freight contributed about ten per cent to the increase of shipments. EBITDA was down 6.9 per cent as a result of investment in development of overland services in countries such as Poland and China.

Chairman Karl Gernandt warned that: "Considering the debt crisis and currency situation in Europe as well as the volatile world economy, it is not possible to reliably forecast how the global markets will develop in the second half of the year."

While maintaining an effective cost management, the group will continue to pursue its global strategy, focusing on investments in growth markets and segments. In this context, the acquisition in Brazil announced today is a significant step."

Source: Logistics Manager

19th July
Hermes network expansion

Hermes has opened a 100,000 sq ft hub is at the Warrington South Distribution Park to replace an existing site in Bradford. The move is expected to reduce mileage and journey times for the trunking operation.

It has also opened an additional location at Crawley in West Sussex, and expanded its site at Rotherham.

The 45,000 sq ft Crawley depot will be operational in September this year. It will create 34 jobs and brings Hermes' network to 20 locations. It has access to the M23 and M25 and will handle forecasted parcel volume expansion in the south east.

In Rotherham, Hermes is relocating to a 35,600 sq ft warehouse at Vector 31 Business Park as a result of recent business growth.

Chief executive Carole Woodhead, said: "These latest improvements to our hub and depot infrastructure mean we possess the necessary capacity within our network to achieve our future growth plans and are well prepared to handle high volumes during the forthcoming peak period."

Source: Logistics Manager

18th July
Yodel and Skillweb launch catalogue delivery system

Yodel has launched a catalogue tracking tool called Houndit in partnership with mobile solutions provider Skillweb to enable tracking, tracing and reporting on the delivery of catalogues.

Yodel delivers 12 million catalogues on behalf of its clients each year.

Paul Ridden, managing director of Skillweb, said: "With specialised catalogue delivery agents each handling in excess of 4,000 catalogues alongside Yodel Neighbourhood couriers delivering both catalogues and parcels, a cost effective and efficient mechanism for tracking each delivery was required."

The technology will improve visibility and facilitate item tracking. It will also provide data for unsuccessful delivery.

David Jacobs, head of B2C development at Yodel, said: "By providing a service that tracks each catalogue up until it is delivered to the door, we can provide assurance that households are receiving the appropriate collateral, which ultimately improves client and consumer satisfaction and contributes to increased sales revenue."

Source: Logistics Manager

15th July
Harry Potter reaches cinemas as if by magic

The long-awaited last instalment of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2", has been delivered to cinemas across the country by DHL Express.

Cinemas in every corner of the UK have ordered the reels, making it one of the largest distributions for DHL's cinema division to date.

More than 100 DHL couriers, in planes, lorries, vans and ferries have carried the film across the country and delivered to 600 cinemas in the UK and Ireland in the past 24 hours.

Robert Maltby, general manager of DHL's cinema division, said: "We're delighted to have played our part in the final piece of the Harry Potter franchise and been responsible for managing the secure distribution of one of the biggest films of the year.

"The films remained within our global network regardless of where they needed to be shipped, and were subject to the same strict security procedures throughout the entirety of their journey."

Warner Brothers said: "One of our biggest concerns is ensuring that the distribution of our film reels remain highly secured at all times. DHL was picked to distribute them on the basis of our past relationship with them and their experience in ensuring the reels were delivered safely, to a tight timescale."

Source: Logistics Manager

15th July
Jungheinrich diversifies brand with new offerings

Jungheinrich has launched a global rebrand, repositioning itself as a consulting service provider as well as manufacturer, taking on the slogan "Machines. Ideas. Solutions."

As part of its expanded service offerings, Jungheinrich has launched an online forklift truck fleet management system, a route optimisation system and also a wide aisle navigation system available on its own WMS.

The fleet management system, called ISM Online, has four modules that can be operated individually or in combination. The basis module gives an overview of all master data for the fleet. The operating costs module accesses invoices, operating hours and service reports, and the safety and productivity modules can document truck damage and address the causes of the damage.

Steve Richmond, general manager of the systems & projects division, said: "Where the new Jungheinrich truck route optimisation module is used there have been quantifiable improvements in the productivity of the equipment and the overall performance of the operation."

The navigation system follows the firm's 2008 system for narrow aisle navigation, and uses barcodes in the warehouse roof, which are read by a scanner on each truck and analysed and communicated via each truck's radio data terminal.

"The days when operators picked from or put away at the wrong location are history… Most importantly, the system provides a complete overview of all the trucks operating within the facility," said Richmond.

To tie in with the manufacturer's brand it has also launched an auto pallet mover, in response to a shift in customers' requirements towards larger facilities with many repetitive long journeys of full pallets.

Richmond said: "There is renewed interest in automated guided vehicles and we believe the development and launch of our new Auto Pallet Mover is well timed."

Jungheinrich recently launched its lithium-ion powered trucks to market at CeMat, and has already taken orders from customers such as Tesco. The new battery technology eliminates maintenance and replacement time and costs. Bill Goodwin, UK sales director said: "We've had masses of interest, and the potential environments for use are broader than we thought."

Source: Logistics Manager

15th July
Muller enlists Oakland for new operation

Müller Dairy has awarded Oakland Distribution a contract to create and implement a bespoke distribution operation.

The scheme will serve 20 wholesale clients, covering all areas of the UK, with the option to expand.

It is intended to allow Müller to continue supplying wholesale clients, while reaching a wider base of smaller clients than before.

Oakland's strategic development manager Pete Vaughan said: "The wholesale market is made up of businesses which generally represent a diverse section of the market, coping with challenges not usually experienced in the major retail sector.

"As we develop the scheme's service offer, we will be able to provide even faster order lead times than at present and as volumes and suppliers grow, we will increase the number of deliveries we can then service each week."

Müller Dairy national account manager and wholesale hub project leader, Keith Langley, said: "Oakland's progressive and flexible approach has enabled Müller Dairy to find the optimum solution for a seamless transition of supply and logistics to our valued regional wholesale customer base, while providing a solid platform for future business development."

Source: Logistics Manager

15th July
Yodel and Skillweb launch catalogue delivery system

Yodel has launched a catalogue tracking tool called Houndit in partnership with mobile solutions provider Skillweb to enable tracking, tracing and reporting on the delivery of catalogues.

Yodel delivers 12 million catalogues on behalf of its clients each year.

Paul Ridden, managing director of Skillweb, said: "With specialised catalogue delivery agents each handling in excess of 4,000 catalogues alongside Yodel Neighbourhood couriers delivering both catalogues and parcels, a cost effective and efficient mechanism for tracking each delivery was required."

The technology will improve visibility and facilitate item tracking. It will also provide data for unsuccessful delivery.

David Jacobs, head of B2C development at Yodel, said: "By providing a service that tracks each catalogue up until it is delivered to the door, we can provide assurance that households are receiving the appropriate collateral, which ultimately improves client and consumer satisfaction and contributes to increased sales revenue."

Source: Logistics Manager

14th July
Yodel launches £4m control tower

Parcel delivery firm Yodel has launched an£4 million control tower system from Isotrak, to manage its fleet of over 600 LGVs and 1,500 trailers.

When Yodel (then Home Delivery Network) acquired DHL Domestic in 2010, its business and fleet both doubled and became more complex.

To address this Yodel took on Isotrak which created an end-to-end solution from order management to performance reporting using its own application and those from DPS International, Enterprise Software Systems and C3.

Jamie Stephenson, managing director of Yodel Transport and Sort, said: "We have worked with our suppliers to create a complete IT solution covering each parcel's logistical journey from client order to depot delivery.

"For our clients that means faster turnaround times, greater performance transparency and more accurate operational information."

The ESS order management system and data warehouse provides a central database of information on every customer, vehicle, driver and transport movement required to fulfil the order.

This is then fed into DPS operational planning which optimises each route and calculates fleet deployment efficiencies and overall strategic network design.

Drivers and tractors are then allocated to each load within the ESS application and the plan is then sent to the vehicle operating centre.

Each tractor unit is monitored, providing real time ETAs. The C3 Yardsmart system identifies where each trailer is from, what load it is carrying and any necessary prioritisation and shunt activity.

Data from the combined programmes is stored centrally, allowing for co-ordinated reporting, the generation of key performance indicators and the easy identification of areas for improvement.

Source: Logistics Manager

14th July
Royal Mail trials locker home delivery service

Royal Mail is set to launch a home delivery service which will allow online shoppers the chance to have goods delivered to a secure, electronic parcel locker known as an iBox.

The service, which is being provided in conjunction with logistics firm ByBox, will be available from a select number of online retailers from this autumn as part of a six month trial.

iBoxes will initially be available at 17 mainline stations within London and six other key sites

Shoppers will be notified via email or SMS as soon as their items are delivered and will have 24/7 access to these items, which are collected by entering a unique PIN code provided in the SMS at the iBox.

Royal Mail is using an off-the-shelf package from MetaPack which takes care of all manifest, labelling and reporting changes to help deliver the iBox service.

The iBox delivery option will be available on the Royal Mail Tracked two to three day service so can be easily bolted on for retailers already offering this option.

The move follows a similar scheme on the continent. In Germany alone there are now almost 3,000 units deployed and 29 per cent of consumers have said the availability of these locker banks has increased their online purchasing.

Other postal administrations using locker banks include Norway, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, France, Poland and Turkey.

Source: Logistics Manager

14th July
Starbucks awards UK and Ireland logistics contract to Gist

Starbucks has taken on Gist to run its UK and Ireland logistics operation, cutting each store's 16 weekly deliveries down to just seven consolidated ambient and chilled loads.

Gist will begin operating the contract in August from its Hemel Hempstead hub, with five other regional facilities handling onward distribution to Starbucks' 720 stores, and some 1,000 concessions stands.

The coffee retailer used to take deliveries at stores throughout the day from CEVA, Dairy Crest and Food Partners. Gist will now consolidate products into one night time delivery per store, when its staff will open up the stores to deposit goods in fridges and freezers.

Starbucks was keen to cut out deliveries that interrupted store operations, in order to enhance customer service. This shift to a faster supply chain is also expected to make cost savings in the region of 20 – 25 per cent, according to Martin Gwynn, chief executive of Gist.

The logistics firm plans to hire some 200 extra staff, includeing 120 warehouse operatives, and 70 drivers. Consultations are in progress regarding the possible TUPE transfer of staff who previously worked on the Starbucks deliveries to the Gist operation.

Gist has taken on 70 new vehicles to service the contract. This includes a range of 10 and 18 tonne rigid body trucks as well as some articulated vehicles.

The firm recorded 18 per cent growth in the 2010 calendar year, and has reported 12 per cent growth since January.

Source: Logistics Manager

13th July
M&S moves out of the sun

Marks & Spencer has cancelled its plans for a solar array at its Bradford distribution centre in Yorkshire because the government has cut Feed-in Tariffs.

The government announced it would cut subsidies for larger green energy schemes over 50kW from 1st August as part of its spending review.

Marks & Spencer had planned to fit photo voltaic panels on the warehouse roof to provide power for its own needs and to sell surplus to the National Grid.

Despite this set back the 1.1 million sq ft Bradford facility remains carbon neutral.

Source: Logistics Manager

12th July
New depot for Speed Welshpool

Delivery firm Speed Welshpool, a member of the Palletways network, has invested in a 40,000 sq ft depot to service customers in the Powys and Shropshire areas.

Managing director Phil Edwards said: "We have seen a significant growth in our business over the past year and the new, larger premises will enable us to offer our high quality, cost effective palletised freight services to even more local businesses in the future."

Source: Logistics Manager

12th July
Norbert Dentressangle trials hybrids

Norbert Dentressangle is set to trial two hybrid vehicles within its French operation ahead of a planned UK trial later this year.

The 19-tonne Renault Premium Distribution trucks are being tested in Paris and Lyon.

Norbert will conduct trials in London later this year to compare performance with diesel models by running a similar 6x2 rear steer vehicle.

The hybrid vehicles combine a diesel engine with an electric motor designed to reduce fuel consumption by 20 per cent and run more quietly than a similar diesel truck.

The electric motor powers the vehicle from nought to 12 mph before the conventional bio-diesel engine takes over.

The vehicles are particularly suited to urban operations thanks to the 310ps on tap, automatic idle cut out and quick start.

In Paris, Norbert will use the trucks to make deliveries for the Carrefour group.

The company is also set to embark on a new phase of tests for alternative technologies for diesel-powered engines.

Source: Logistics Manager

11th July
Menzies acquisition

Menzies Distribution has acquired Media On The Move from The Journey Group for £1.175 million.

The acquisition extends the newspaper and magazine distributor's provision of on-board and barding lounge reading material to a wider variety of operators including cruiselines, train companies and airlines.

Menzies Distribution's strategic director David Morton, said: "Media On The Move has carved out a respected position in the market and has a strong reputation for innovation. Combining that with our strengths in logistics provides us with fantastic opportunities in the UK and overseas."

Source: Logistics Manager

8th July
Pallet-Track buys 40 Lindes

Distribution network Pallet-Track has bought 40 Linde forklift trucks to operate at its 267,000 sq ft hub at Wolverhampton.

Managing director Nigel Parkes said: "The new forklift trucks are helping us to improve efficiency… The constant monitoring of our central processes has enabled us to plan and cater for the increasing demand on our services, which has seen a five fold increase in freight volumes in recent years."

The firm electronically scans, tracks and tranships some 7,000 pallets per night.

Source: Logistics Manager

7th July
Coca-Cola Enterprises signs two Norbert deals

Coca-Coca Enterprises has signed two contracts with Norbert Dentressangle, to manage the warehousing and distribution operation of its UK vending business, and the distribution of its consumer beverages.

Under the first deal, Norbert Dentressangle will operate a centralised hub for the handling, storage, pre-delivery inspection and distribution of vending and cooling machines.

The operation will involve the movement of around 34,000 vending machines and coolers per year, and the delivery and installation of equipment at customer premises throughout the UK.

In conjunction with the delivery operation, Norbert Dentressangle will also be responsible for collecting withdrawn equipment from customers, which it will then trunk back to the central hub for inspection or disposal.

The transport operation will be served by a dedicated specialist fleet of 14 and 18 tonne rigid, tail-lift vehicles, equipped with specialist handling equipment to allow machines to be delivered to a range of installation points.

All deliveries will be undertaken by specially trained two-man crews who will be responsible for installing and demonstrating the equipment.

The dedicated fleet will be supplemented by Norbert Dentressangle's national specialist shared-user network, to increase flexibility and control costs.

As part of the vending contract, Norbert Dentressangle will also handle the distribution of Coca-Cola Enterprise's post-mix and dispense equipment throughout the UK, providing a specialist service for bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The storage operation occupies 50,000 sq ft of dedicated space within Norbert Dentressangle's shared-user warehouse at Kiln Farm in Milton Keynes.

The operation can also accommodate additional volumes when needed.

In addition to its core warehousing operations, Norbert Dentressangle will be responsible for product customisation and for the disposal of end-of-life product under the WEEE Directive and Hazardous Waste Regulations.

Kiln Farm is also the principal hub for the second contract for the distribution of consumer beverages.

It will involve the collection and delivery of around 86,000 pallets per year from five Coca-Cola Enterprise manufacturing and distribution centres to retailer and wholesaler regional distribution centres.

This will be supported by a second base in Yorkshire, which will be served by a fleet of dedicated and shared-user vehicles.

Source: Logistics Manager

7th July
Million euro hub for Geodis in Dubai

Geodis Wilson has invested one million euros in a 91,500 sq ft distribution centre in Jebel Ali South in Dubai, so it can offer a full-service contract logistics operation in the Middle East.

The new centre provides warehousing services, ambient and temperature-controlled accommodation, configurable racking up to an eaves height of 13m, inventory, labeling, barcoding, packing pouches, blisters, vendor management, as well as domestic and cross border distribution.

The hub is wi-fi enabled with RDT scanners. The facility also has mobile docking stations (comprising laptop, label and barcode printer) that can be moved to the point of cargo reception for immediate processing.

The firm already runs its own freight network, including trucking services between the various countries and a 24-hour online customs service.

Sascha Geiken, managing director for the UAE, said: "The demand for contract logistics is very high… Most companies trading via or in the Middle East need a hub solution for their business, and Dubai is undoubtedly the regional choice, with very good onward connections."

New business at the facility includes a contract to handle IBM's hardware and spare parts for dispatch to other points in the Gulf region.

Source: Logistics Manager

6th July
Yodel joins group to fight cyber crime

Yodel has joined forces with a number of global businesses to create a group of founder members supporting the launch of the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance (ICSPA), which aims to tackle the growing threat posed by cyber criminals.

ICSPA is a global not-for-profit organisation established to channel funding, expertise and assistance to help law enforcement cybercrime units in both domestic and international markets.

The group has been endorsed by the Prime Minister David Cameron and chaired by the David Blunkett.

ICSPA will work with the UK and foreign governments, law enforcement organisations and businesses to identify areas of vulnerability and to fund targeted programmes that will boost protection against cyber crime.

Yodel chief executive Jonathan Smith said: "As one of the UK's leading delivery companies, handling sensitive packages and crucial data for businesses and consumers, Yodel is well aware of the growing threat posed by criminals operating online.

"We take this issue incredibly seriously and are proud to be a founding member of ICSPA. By working together with stakeholders on a global basis, the organisation is in a position to make a real difference and help clamp down on cybercrime."

ICSPA will work with Europol to identify the areas of need but the training of law enforcement officers and information sharing systems will form the first tranche of projects led and funded by the organisation.

Source: Logistics Manager

5th July
Geodis Calberson wins Slovenian beer contract

Lasko Beer has signed a contract with Geodis Calberson to bring Slovenian lagers and lager-based drinks to the UK.

Under the rolling contract, Geodis Calberson will transport a range of bottled drinks including the Balkans' best selling Zlatorog lager, as well as Lasko Export Gold and Lasko Dark into the UK.

Consignments will also include the Bandidos range of lager-based drinks flavoured with tequila, lemon and lime, and orange and guava.

Geodis Calberson will collect the bottled drinks from the brewery in Lasko, Slovenia, which is reportedly the largest brewery in the Balkan region.

It will then arrange inbound transport, customs clearance and storage at its depot in High Wycombe. From there it will then pick orders and distribute the bottled drinks to handpicked wholesalers who will sell them into pubs.

Cambridge-based Lasko Beer is a new company set up to import the Slovenian drinks by Charles Gardner and Mark Weaver.

Sales director Weaver said: "These are very exciting times for Lasko Beer, from being virtually unknown in the UK, apart from in the expatriate Balkan community, the lagers could become hugely popular.

"And if our business takes off as we are hoping, Geodis Calberson's contract with us could grow as well."

Source: Logistics Manager

4th July
Parcelforce "outpacing rivals", says Greene

Royal Mail boss Moya Greene claims Parcelforce Worldwide has "outpaced its key rivals" in terms of growth.

The UK operator's express parcels business reported "strong revenue growth" as well as record profits for the 2010-2011 financial year.

Revenues rose by 5% to £420m, the company said, adding that volumes in the "highly competitive business to business markets grew by 15%".

Chief executive officer Greene said: "Parcelforce Worldwide has had an exceptional year. In a market where competition is open and intense it has increased revenue and profits and has outpaced all its key rivals."

Profits at the parcels business have trebled over the last four years, at a time when declining letter mail volumes have hampered overall Group results.

Earlier this month, Royal Mail revealed a drop in group operating profit of £141m, as a result of falling revenues. The group recorded a figure of 39m, compared to £180m for the previous year.

A 4% drop in core mail volumes saw revenues fall from £9.3bn to £9.2bn, with the 'UK Letters & Parcels and International' division (UKLPI) losing £120m over the course of the year – a figure of £2m a week. The unit made a profit of £20m during the 2009-2010 financial year.

Speaking at time, Greene said the company remains in "significant financial difficulty", and that the business will be challenged to reduce costs even further over the coming years.

Parcelforce Worldwide's strong results come as finance director Robert Peto leaves the business.

Peto will take up the same position at Rentokil Initial's courier firm City Link, who has also appointed Royal Mail's chief customer officer David Smith as its new managing director.

Source: Royal Mail

1st July
Geodis Wilson launches luxury hotel service

Geodis Wilson has launched a business unit to provide integrated logistics for luxury hotels and resorts and their suppliers.

The aim is provide a single source shipping service for everything a new hotel or resort needs including furniture, fixtures and equipment as well as silverware and towels. It will also the ongoing supply chain services that these hotel and resorts need.

Anjali Sadarangani, global director of luxury hotel and resort logistics, said: "These highly recognizable brands and their entire supplier base want a dedicated logistics partner. We created this new business unit to ensure they receive the white-glove services they expect and require."

The service will be operated by dedicated teams and project managers, regional competency centres and a global hotel logistics control tower, providing all kinds of global and domestic freight services.

Source: Logistics Manager

30th June
Merck expands UPS logistics deal

Pharmaceuticals giant Merck has expanded its logistics deal with UPS to include aspects of its global supply chain. UPS currently manages the distribution, warehousing and transport of Merck's medicines and vaccines in North America.

Willie A Deese, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division, said: "This expanded agreement with UPS allows us to focus on our core business as a global healthcare leader that looks for innovative ways to bring our medicines and vaccines to patients in emerging markets and markets around the world."

Merck's relationship with UPS began in 2003 with package delivery services in the United States, and has grown to include North American distribution, warehousing and multi-modal transport services.

UPS will now provide these services in certain markets in Asia and Latin America, including the emerging markets of China and Brazil. UPS also is providing transport services in Europe.

Source: Logistics Manager

30th June
DHL makes Kuschel director of sales

DHL has appointed Neil Kuschel as director of sales for DHL Express UK.

Kuschel's career with DHL spans 13 years, and he was previously based in DHL's Sub Saharan Africa head office in Cape Town, South Africa.

He was responsible for sales, marketing and customer service functions for 49 African countries, and oversaw revenue growing in double digits and at its highest ever level.

Kuschel began working for DHL as a Field Sales Executive in Bahrain. He worked across the United Arab Emirates in numerous roles before being appointed National Sales and Marketing Manager in 2006, his last role before moving to SSA.

Source: Logistics Manager

30th June
CEVA gets EU customs status

CEVA Logistics has been recognise as an Authorise Economic Operator in the UK by the European Union.

To be approved, CEVA had to meet strict security and customs standards.

Having AEO status allows simpler, and fast-tracked customs applications via the Customs Security Program of the European Union.

Michael O'Donoghue, managing director, freight management UK, Ireland and Nordics said: "AEO measures our compliance in ISO, Security, HR and Finance. It has helped us to raise compliance levels and improve existing internal controls."

This adds to the AEO accreditation CEVA secured in Ireland in 2010.

Source: Logistics Manager

29th June
CitySprint hires Burtenshaw

CitySprint has appointed David Burtenshaw non-executive chairman.

Burtenshaw has held senior board positions in the logistics sector for 30 years including spells with Federal Express, where he became managing director of its home delivery business, ANC, and Lynx Express.

He became chief executive of Lynx in 1999 and chairman of the board of the EuroExpress partnership in 2001, of which Lynx was a member. In 2005, he managed the sale of Lynx to UPS.

Source: Logistics Manager

29th June
BT partners DHL for innovation

BT has signed a global innovation partnership agreement with Deutsche Post DHL to support DHL's Solutions & Innovations unit.

BT will have access to the DHL innovation centre and the two firms will conduct joint research and development. This will include RFID and security solutions for the supply chain and green and sustainable logistics.

Petra Kiwitt, executive vice president, DHL Solutions & Innovations, said: "Like us, BT operates globally, addressing the needs of many of the best known brands in the world. We are confident that both companies will identify great new opportunities that will help us push the logistics industry further at the forefront of innovation."

A special focus will be on the emerging markets of Asia Pacific, where BT is investing in next generation infrastructure and supply chain capabilities. BT recently signed a contract to supply DHL with communications services across the region.

Source: Logistics Manager

28th June
Geodis Calberson opens Birmingham hub

Geodis Calberson has opened an additional hub in Birmingham to handle inbound and outbound European cargo to support its growth.

All of the company's import and export freight movements that previously went through Watford Gap will now be handled at Birmingham. Watford Gap will continue to handle the Fortec pallet business.

Managing director Jamie Cuthbert said: "This move allows both the UK pallet business and our European services to continue to flourish."

Source: Logistics Manager

27th June
Tesco chooses Transdek for double-decker store access

Tesco is using Transdek to convert 100 of its top stores to accommodate deliveries from double-deck trailers.

It is using the V2G (vehicle to ground) loading system which is surface-mounted and can be installed and operational within a day.

The retailer is using more and more double deck trailers in its operations as they can carry 55 per cent more product per journey. A single deck can handle 45 cages against 75 in a double-decker.

The V2G range is supplied as a pre-clad, pre-tested loadhouse unit, providing a ready-made temperature-controlled and secure environment for the protection of products between vehicles and the warehouse.

Transdek says it has confirmed orders from another two major supermarket groups for the system, and is in talks with architects from a supermarket regarding the V2G system's ability to allow new stores to be built without vehicle ramps or raised docks, saving on construction costs and minimising unprofitable back-of-store space.

The V2G system is capable of unloading a single deck artic in 45 minutes. Transdek operations director Leon Butler said: "Because of its versatility, it can service any mix of delivery vehicles: both the single deck trailers of today, and the growing double deck fleets of tomorrow."

Source: Logistics

27th June
£100m Humber logistics development gets the go-ahead

North Lincolnshire Council has approved plans by Able UK to build a £100m logistics park on the South Humber Gateway.

The site covers almost 1,000 acres at East Halton and developments will include transport depots, warehousing, external storage areas, offices, a business park and motel, and energy developments

Road and rail links to the adjacent ports of Grimsby and Immingham, and to the Humber Sea Terminal will also be provided.

Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "This is a major breakthrough and marks the first step to attracting further investment on the South Humber Gateway. The site is the fastest growing ports and logistics centre in the country and has the potential to be Europe's leader in renewable energy."

The development is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs and could attract up to £1.5 billion of further investment in the area.

Source: Logistics Manager

24th June
Matthew Clark selects Link 51

Drinks supplier, Matthew Clark has taken on UK shelving and storage manufacturer Link 51 to design, manufacture and install wide aisle pallet racking at its Bristol bulk storage warehouse.

The 8,400 sq m pick and pack facility at Portbury was completed a week ahead of schedule, and is operated by the Bristol Port Company.

The racking provides capacity for 8,572 pallet locations with heights varying from 4 to 6 pallets.

The initial priority was to include 15 tons of steel spreader plates to support the structure on the hardened warehouse floor slab. The racking system was based on 15 wide aisles, each 75 metres long with two bridging bays to facilitate cross aisle transfers.

Each pallet location was configured as 1m wide by 1.2 m deep, as opposed to the conventional 1.2m wide by 1m deep, for better vehicle loading and distribution.

Bristol Port's development engineer, Paul Osborne said: "Given the time constraints, the fact that Link 51 manufactures in the UK provides substantial benefits, including rapid access to spares as and when required."

Source: Logistics Manager

23rd June
Geach joins Hermes from TNT

Delivery courier network Hermes has appointed Danny Geach as head of business development.

In his new role, he will be tasked with generating compatible new business in line with the company's growth strategy.

Geach joins Hermes with 15 years' experience at TNT Express in a number of roles working within the business-to-business delivery marketplace. Most recently he was responsible for media and entertainment firms such as Game, HMV, Tesco Entertainment, Arvato, CJ Clarks and Morrisons entertainment.

23rd June
Movianto doubles storage

Healthcare logistics firm Movianto has completed an expansion of its cold chain and narcotics facilities.

The Bedford based company has eight UK depots, and has completed its cold storage expansion in time for the procurement period as stocking starts in the late summer.

Cold storage capacity has doubled to 4,500 pallet spaces but also installed a temperature controlled loading, unloading and packing facility. It has also doubled its high security storage for narcotics.

Movianto can now also offer providing new manufacturing services including kitting, relabeling and repackaging of medication.

Source: Logistics Manager

23rd June
DHL invests 100m euros in Asia routes

DHL has bought three Boeing 747-400 converted freighters worth 100m euros to improve its service on high demand Asia Air Network routes.

The three B747-400 BCFs each have a payload of 100 tonnes, and will each will service three high capacity routes six days a week: Tokyo-Hong Kong, Singapore-Hong Kong, Shanghai-Hong Kong.

The planes will be operated by Air Hong Kong, which is a joint venture between Cathay Pacific and DHL.

Currently, two A300-600 general freighters each with a 45-tonne payload, serve the direct routes between Tokyo-Hong Kong and Shanghai-Hong Kong. By September 2011, these will be redeployed to service five weekly services from Beijing-Hong Kong and Manila-Hong Kong, replacing two 24-tonne B727-200Fs planeswhich will be retired.

Source: Logistics Manager

23rd June
Hermes stays up late

Hermes has extended the cut-off time for retailers using its next-day delivery service until 9pm.

The 9pm cut-off time will be for designated next-day delivery parcel traffic entering Hermes' northern and southern hubs.

The aim is to offer retailers greater flexibility within their multi-channel supply chains so that they can offer customers a later order deadline for delivery the following day.

Using the company's trunking operation, retailers will now be able to send additional volumes up until the 9pm deadline for onward delivery into the Hermes nationwide depot network.

Source: Logistics Manager

22nd June
Italian service for Geodis Calberson

Geodis Calberson has launched a direct daily service to Milan and Bologna in Italy. As well as a standard groupage service, the carrier is offering its Eurotop and Eurofirst products on the route,

Eurotop is aimed at the high-end finished consumer goods market while Eurofirst is a premium door-to-door service with guaranteed journey times of between 48-96 hours to 10 European countries.

Managing director Jamie Cuthbert said: "Our new daily service to Italy, with platforms in Milan and Bologna, is an exciting development which we believe will prove extremely popular."

Source: Logistics Manager

21st June
High speed system for New Look distribution centre

Fashion retailer New Look is to install a high-speed material handling system at its new distribution centre in Lymedale, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

It has chosen Crisplant to supply the system and the project is scheduled for completion in 2012, It will provide a capacity of 13,800 available cross belts per induction per hour.

New Look project director Dino Tims said: "We have awarded this contract to Crisplant because their proposed system will allow us to meet our commercial goals of continued expansion and a reduction in energy costs."

The system will be based on Crisplant's LS-4000CB sorter which reduces energy consumption by up to 80 per cent compared to sorters which use conventional motor technology.

It will be equipped with two cross belts per carrier, and will have three different operating speeds to increase throughput at peak times while minimising wear and tear, noise level, and power consumption when demand is less.

The initial sorting system will allow 240 orders to be handled simultaneously. The design allows for further expansion with the possibility to extend the sorter to two layers with additional induction areas and discharges.

The sorter will be controlled and supervised by Crisplant Sorter Control and Crisplant Machine Control software, and will also include its Manual Encoding Stations.

Source: Logistics Manager

20th June
Seafield completes North West depot

Seafield Logistics is completing work on its 45,000 sq ft Winsford depot which will serve as its flagship location in the North West, serving customers in Cheshire and the surrounding areas.

The warehouse at Premier Park in Winsford, has brand new racking and can store over 4,600 pallets. It has a mixture of pallet types and will store pallets of bags weighing from 25kg up to 1300kgs for Tata Chemicals.

Some of Seafield's main suppliers such as Frater Trailer Hire, Bennion Commercial Repairs, Gardner Denver, TIP Europe, European Communications, JML Hendersons and Mend a Hose Hydraulics will be attending an open day tomorrow, the 21st of June.

Source: Logistics Manager

20th June
Co-op set to open Andover distribution centre

The Co-operative's 468,000 sq ft regional distribution centre on Andover Business Park is due to open later this month following completion of the fit-out of the building.

The opening of the building marks completion of the first phase of development of the Goodman's business park.

The distribution centre will handle 1.3m cases of fresh, frozen, chilled, and ambient products every week, to more than 400 stores across southern England.

Mark Leonard, The Co-operative Group's regional head of logistics, said: "Andover is an excellent location to serve our stores in the south of England and we have worked closely with the developer who has delivered a fantastic facility on time and on budget.

"Our new regional distribution centre will not only provide major employment opportunities locally but will also help further boost the local economy for many years to come. This is a major investment in, and commitment to, the local community.

"The Co-operative Group's food business has grown significantly in recent years and our logistics operation has undergone a major overhaul to develop accordingly. This investment will help us to continue to provide high standards of service to our customers, while also allowing for further growth."

Construction work on the RDC was been completed on schedule and it has been handed over to Legal & General, with whom Goodman agreed a forward funding and acquisition transaction in April 2010.

Development of the site has also required infrastructure improvements, notably the opening of a new £4 million junction which provides direct access to the A303 dual carriage way linking the site to the A34, and the M3 and M4 motorways.

The 100 acre multi use site has outline planning permission for 1.6 million sq ft of B1, B2 and B8 uses for industrial, office and logistics space. Situated on the West side of Andover, the park has excellent access to a large local workforce.

Jason Harris, development director at Goodman, said: "We have a clear vision and commitment for Andover Business Park, and this represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the site. We are proactively marketing the remaining 60 acres on the site, where we have secured outline planning permission for up to 1.6 million sq ft of commercial space."

Source: Logistics Manager

17th June
Suttons invests £800,000 in fleet

Suttons is investing £500, 000 in 35 new, slope frame ISO skeletal trailers from UK manufacturer Dennison, and a further £300, 000 in refurbishing 55 skeletal trailers.

The move follows a £9.5m investment earlier this year the company in new tanks, the first of which have just been delivered.

The trailers will be delivered in September and will operate in the UK on Suttons international business moving tank containers to and from UK ports and railheads and making customer deliveries.

Group managing director Andrew Palmer said: "This is another significant investment in new equipment as the company continues to win new business and grow."

Source: Logistics Manager

17th June
Stobart brings easyJet into Southend

Stobart Group's London Southend Airport has agreed a ten year contract with easyJet, for flights to a number of European destinations.

easyJet will start operations in April 2012, ahead of the London Olympics. It expects to deliver around 800,000 passengers per annum. This will increase the annualised throughput at the airport to nearly one million passengers.

Stobart's development at Southend includes a new control tower, a new dedicated train station on the Southend to Stratford and Liverpool Street line, a new terminal building due for completion this autumn, and a runway extension due for completion this winter.

Source: Logistics Manager

16th June
DHL launches environmental service

DHL Supply Chain has launched an environmental service, DHL Envirosolutions, focusing on waste, recycling, compliance and energy efficiency services.

The unit operates a managed nationwide service, from traditional waste management and recycling through integrated back-haul and customer take-back programmes.

It is licensed to handle any form of waste material, from bulk recyclables to dangerous and hazardous waste.

Services range from supervised and scheduled collections to ad-hoc and on-demand capabilities, each tailored to specific client requirements.

Organisations from all sectors have started to realise the potential for generating revenue from waste streams such as recyclables, while at the same time working towards meeting their environmental and sustainability targets. For instance,

Highlighting the savings available, DHL points to work with pub group JD Wetherspoon which has generated annual savings of more than 11,000 tons of CO2 and £150,000 on landfill tax.

Jos Daalhuizen, business director of DHL Envirosolutions, said: "Reducing landfill waste is no longer just about meeting legal requirements; it makes business sense. As DHL Envirosolutions extends its offer in this space, we will continue to develop increasingly innovative ideas that challenge the industry norm, and help businesses maximise the efficiency of their operation."

Source: Logistics Manager

15th June
Scharwath joins K+N board

Tim Scharwath, who heads Kuehne + Nagel's North West Europe division, is to join the group's international management board from 1st September.

He is taking on responsibility for air logistics previously held by Peter Ulber who is leaving the company for personal reasons. Ulber's board responsibility for sea logistics is to be taken on by Horst-Joachim Schacht.

Scharwarth joined Kuehne + Nagel in 1992. He worked in sales and branch management, and was appointed executive vice president airfreight Central Europe in 2004. From 2007 to 2008 he was managing director in the Netherlands and in 2009 he was promoted to regional director North West Europe.

Schacht joined Kuehne + Nagel in 1997 after holding several management positions in the shipping industry.

Source: Logistics Manager

14th June
Royal Mail profits fall as mail volumes decline

Royal Mail has reported sharply lower annual profits, due in part to falling mail volumes.

Operating profit, including the costs of modernisation changes, was £39m in 2010, down from £180m in 2009, the group said.

It blamed falling revenues after the number of letters and parcels carried last year fell by 4%.

Royal Mail also said it would be making further job cuts and mail centre closures as it tries to reduce costs.

"With the decline in our volumes, we are going to be a smaller company in the future than we are today," its chief executive Moya Greene said, adding that it would be "disrespectful" to put a figure on the number of jobs that will go.

Previous cuts have been made through voluntary redundancies and Ms Greene said she was confident that no compulsory redundancies would be needed.

'Financial difficulty'

Those job cuts are part of Royal Mail's modernisation programme, which it says is one of the biggest of its kind undertaken in the UK.

Some 5,500 staff left the business last year and it expects the number of mail centres to halve over the next five years.

Over the past five years, 45,000 jobs have gone from the UK letters and parcels business, reducing the total number of staff to about 163,000.

"Royal Mail has been in significant financial difficulty for a number of years," said Ms Greene.

"Our challenge is to put [it] on a sound, secure and sustainable footing."

It has invested £400m in the modernisation process in the past financial year.

'Tipping point'

The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents most postal workers, said the changes were putting a severe strain on staff and said it could not rule out further strike action.

"Royal Mail's biggest challenge is to recognise that postal workers are working harder than ever and are now at a tipping point," said CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward.

"We understand the need to modernise the company, but Royal Mail must accept that people come first and the pace of change can only be dictated by what people can cope with," he added.

Royal Mail's results showed the financial strain the company is under.

It is technically insolvent as its liabilities, including its pension fund, exceed the value of its assets.

The size of the pension fund deficit has however, almost halved, from £8bn in 2010 to £4.5bn in 2011. Royal Mail said it had paid £771m into the pension fund during the financial year.

The drop in liabilities is largely due to the government's plan to change the inflation measure used to calculate pensions from RPI to the typically lower CPI.

Meanwhile the government is proceeding with plans to sell or privatise Royal Mail. The Postal Services Act received royal assent this week.

The change in regulation will allow the government to take on the pension burden and for the potential sale or privatisation of the business.

Source: BBC News

14th June
Managing Director and Finance Director of City Link Appointed

Rentokil Initial plc today announces two senior appointments within City Link, the express delivery company. David Smith will join the business as Managing Director and Robert Peto as Finance Director. Both bring significant experience of the parcel delivery sector. They join later this year from Royal Mail Group where they both played leading roles in the turnaround of Parcelforce.

David Smith joined Royal Mail Group in 2002. Since the end of 2010 David has been a member of the Holdings Board where he has served as Chief Customer Officer for Royal Mail Group responsible for the commercial direction of the UK Letters, Parcels and International Business, and driving an agenda of customer centricity. Previous roles include Managing Director of Post Office Limited and Managing Director of Parcelforce. He also held senior roles at RS Components UK Limited. David is a chartered accountant.

Robert Peto joins City Link having served as Finance Director of Parcelforce since 2006 where he was a key member of the team driving the business turnaround, improving profitability through robust financial and operational management. Robert joined Parcelforce in 2003 as Financial Controller. Prior to joining Parcelforce, Robert worked at Geopost (UK) Ltd for nine years where his roles included Financial Controller, International Express Financial Controller and Management Accountant for Parceline. Robert is a chartered management accountant.

Source: Rentokil Initial Plc

14th June
New plans for Stobart's Peterborough RDC

Stobart Group has re-submitted plans for a new RDC in Peterborough.

It hopes to build an £18 million distribution facility on the Great Haddon development – creating more than 350 jobs.

The proposal put forward by developer Roxhill includes a new £2 million road junction servicing Great Haddon off the A1139 Fletton Parkway, near to the A1, and building a new main road through the urban extension. This had been a sticking point with local residents in the original plans put forward in July 2010.

The plans include a 175,000 sq ft distribution centre with 12 HGV loading bays, a separate "cross dock" facility and office space covering a further 75,000 sq ft. Stobart is looking to open the new facility in April 2012.

Source: Logistics Manager

13th June
Geach joins Hermes from TNT

Delivery courier network Hermes has appointed Danny Geach as head of business development.

In his new role, he will be tasked with generating compatible new business in line with the company's growth strategy.

Geach joins Hermes with 15 years' experience at TNT Express in a number of roles working within the business-to-business delivery marketplace. Most recently he was responsible for media and entertainment firms such as Game, HMV, Tesco Entertainment, Arvato, CJ Clarks and Morrisons entertainment.

Source: Logistics Manager

10th June
Wincanton to raise £41m from business sales

Wincanton is to sell some of its continental operations after reporting an operating loss of £7.3 million after exceptionals for the year to 31st March.

Raben Group is buying Wincanton's road business in Germany as well as businesses in central and eastern Europe in a deal that values the businesses at 36 million euros (£32m).

And the logistics business in the Netherlands is to be sold to JCL Transport und Logistik in a deal worth 10.5m euros (£9.4m).

Wincanton said that for the year to 31 March these activities generated sales of some 446m euros and operating losses of some 600,000 euros.

The sales are part of Wincanton's plan to cut debt and focus on areas with the best growth potential.

The businesses are among a group of five identified by new chief executive Eric Born as sub-scale or under-performing. Other businesses in this group include Foodservice and France. In total they account for 25 per cent of group sales and the aim is either to turn them around or exit.

Announcing its annual results, Wincanton produced an underlying operating profit of £53m in the year to 31st March but this turned into a loss of £7.3m after exception items such as restructuring costs and impairment of goodwill.

As a result the group reported a loss for the year of £24.9m against a profit of £2.5m the year before. Sales were static at £2.18 billion. As a result, thr group has suspended its dividend for the year.

Chairman David Edmonds, who announced that he will be stepping down, said: "The principal objective is to drive costs out of the business, by recognising that our customers' demands are changing and that we need to adapt our business model to achieve a stable level of profits from these long-standing relationships.

"In addition, we need to address the sub-scale and underperforming businesses and reduce the group's borrowings. Over the past decade, the group has made a series of acquisitions, which has increased debt to a level which now constrains the group's ability to invest in the higher growth and more profitable parts of the business. In time the improved profitability will drive a more positive cash flow, but in the short term the cash flow will be assisted by business disposals."

As well as identifying under-performing businesses, Wincanton has categorised its other market sectors in three groups.

1. Growth markets – targeting ten per cent annual profit growth: 11 per cent of sales.
Construction
Defence and Aerospace
Containers
Records Management
Public sector

2. Performing businesses – profit growth conditional on net contract wins: 55 per cent of sales.
Retail (includes Home Delivery)
Pullman Fleet Services
German contract logistics
German intermodal

3. Mature business segments – maintain market share and profits: 9 per cent of sales.
Energy
Milk / bulk foods
Consumer goods

Wincanton's average debt levels remained broadly flat year-on-year at some £270m, buth cash interest charge increased from £11.5m to £14.8m, principally as a result of the full year impact of higher margins and commitment fees.

Born said: "The first challenge is to drive sustainable profit growth by focusing on leveraging existing assets, accelerating the growth of our higher margin services and markets as well as progressively lowering our cost base by applying Lean Six Sigma principles.

"Secondly, we need to finalise strategies for areas of the business that are either sub-scale or underperforming. In some cases that will mean selling businesses but in others it is getting an acceptable return through operational improvement.

"Thirdly, we need to reduce our existing level of debt which will assist the Group to secure its refinancing in 2012. This would reduce overall gearing and therefore provide us with the flexibility to invest more into future growth areas."

Source: Logistics Manager

9th June
Drinks distribution win for London City Bond

Drinks producer Zenzan has awarded its distribution contract to wine and spirits logistics firm London City Bond.

The contract will involve storage of Zenzan's ready-to-drink products at London City Bond's Barking warehouse, as well as picking and delivery of the bottles to the drinks manufacturer's customers across the UK.

Source: Logistics Manager

8th June
Palletways invests £1.5m in new vehicles

European palletised freight network Palletways has invested £1.5m adding to its vehicle fleet.

Twenty four new vehicles and trailers have been purchased, which will operate out of two depots in London and Birmingham, UK.

The investment will allow Palletways to accommodate its growing number of national and international customers, it said.

Andrew Turner, managing director of Palletways Owned Operations, said: "The investment in new fleet across these operations reflects the growth and success of our business, which has seen an increase of 15% in volumes handled in the last year."

The Palletways distribution network provides a range of express delivery services including next day, economy and timed delivery options.

Palletways, which was set up in 1994, has 280 plus depots across the UK and mainland Europe and handles circa 21,000 pallets a day through nine hub facilities across Europe.

The company's distribution networks in the UK and mainland Europe are supported by a fully integrated IT infrastructure, which allows customers to track and trace consignments over the Internet.

Source: Palletways

8th June
Royal Mail could slash 40,000 jobs

Royal Mail could reportedly cut up to 40,000 jobs over the next five years – equating to almost a quarter of its workforce.

Chief executive Moya Greene is on the verge of agreeing to a "revised business plan with the government", according to a report in The Sunday Times.

The company is looking to downsize employee numbers in light of imminent privatisation plans, under the Postal Services Bill, and dwindling mail volumes.

As well as allowing private investment into Royal Mail, the Bill outlines that Post Office Ltd could move to a mutual ownership model, Ofcom will become the regulator to the UK postal industry, and the government will take on Royal Mail Group's pension deficit. The Government made a number of amendments to the Bill in April.

The Bill passed through the House of Lords last month, with amendments due to be heard in the House of Commons later this month.

The consideration session in the Commons is the final stage before Royal Assent.

The current three-year deal between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union will see the operator annually reduce its headcount by 8,000 until 2013, The Sunday Times said, before adding that Greene is expected to instigate another 15,000 job cuts by 2016.

Royal Mail currently employs around 165,000 people, and is the second largest employer in the UK after the NHS.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We cannot comment on future jobs losses numbers. We have always been clear that Royal Mail would be a smaller and more efficient company over time.

"This change is naturally a difficult process for our people and we are committed to working closely with our unions."

In response to the reports, a CWU spokesperson said: "CWU is not aware of plans to cut 40,000 jobs. We are not going to accept compulsory redundancies and we don't believe that you could lose 40,000 jobs without them. We would ballot for national strike action."

Source: The Sunday Times

7th June
Norbert Dentressangle cements deal

Concrete product supplier JKH Drainage, has awarded a new contract to Norbert Dentressangle for the use of its shared-user pallet network.

This is in order to reduce its supply chain costs by switching to consolidated consignments.

Norbert now makes collections from J.K.H's warehouse in Mildenhall, Suffolk. Orders are then processed and consolidated, then trunked overnight to Norbert's gional depots for final delivery.

J.K.H also has access to Norbert's Shipment Handling and Reporting Program. The company can place orders electronically, which are scanned and tracked in real time to improve operational efficiency and service levels.

J.K.H. makes steel reinforced pre-cast concrete products and moulded glass reinforced cement products for drainage of agricultural land, sports-fields and civil engineering projects.

Source: Logistics Manager

7th June
Geodis Wilson buys US logistics firm

Geodis Wilson has strengthened its position in the US market by taking over domestic transport firm One Source Logistics.

The acquisition is the first step in a strategy of growth in the US.

Jean-Louis Demeulenaere, chief executive officer, said: "Our aim is to, at least, double our freight forwarding business in the US within the coming 5 years, based on external and organic growth."

The group recently established a 4PL product, employs 1,400 people, and reported revenue of some 750 million euro in its Americas' region over 2010.

One Source Logistics, based in Minneapolis, has a network of transport, logistics and distribution services throughout the United States, which is now connected to Geodis Wilson's global freight services.

6th June
Hermes Group sees annual sales soar 17%

Companies operating under the Hermes umbrella significantly increased turnover during 2010 – with Group sales up 17%.

Overall sales increased to EUR 1.72bn, in comparison to EUR 1.47bn recorded for the previous financial year.

"Hermes has successfully positioned itself on the global market as an integrated provider of retail-related services. Increasing numbers of international distance sellers trust us to handle essential parts of their value chain," said Hanjo Schneider, CEO Hermes Europe and Member of the Executive Board of the Otto with responsibility for the Services Segment (pictured).

"Retailers who choose Hermes as a partner can concentrate entirely on their core business, updating their product line and sales. Our professionally specialised companies will take care of everything else," he added.

The outlook for the current financial year is also encouraging. With its current alignment, all business sectors of the Hermes Group stand to profit from further expansions in e-commerce, rendering corporate services for companies using the Internet as a sales channel.

The German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association is forecasting a further increase in online sales of 15.5% for Germany in 2011 to bring it up to EUR 21.1bn. This rapid growth is also shaping the growing European parcel business.

"We aren't simply relying on the continued growth of online sales and the resulting contracts. We are increasingly shaping the e-commerce business ourselves by developing new products, brands and services especially for Internet retail and dovetailing this approach with over-the-counter retail," explained Schneider.

With sales of EUR 303.8m in 2010, the Hermes Logistik Gruppe Deutschland (HLGD) transported 14% more shipments in a year-on-year comparison (prior year: EUR 266m). By doing so, it posted considerable growth in volume for the seventh year in a row, nearly twice as high as that for the courier-express-parcel segment as a whole (7.1%).

In Germany, Hermes will invest EUR 120m in the construction of 18 new depots. The materials handling technology installed in the new sites will enable 4,500 shipments per hour to be processed on average. This corresponds to an increase in capacity of around 200% compared to performance levels achieved in the old buildings.

Significant growth was also recorded by Hermes Einrichtungs Service in the area of furniture and bulky item deliveries. Across Germany, nearly 20% more shipments were effected than in 2009 (2.5m), with over 3m furniture items and electrical and household appliances delivered. As the "market leader" in the '2-man delivery' sector, HES was responsible for the delivery of every second furniture item or household appliance to its final recipient within Germany.

In Britain, Hermes UK increased shipment volumes by around 8% to 115.5m from 107.2m in the prior year. In so doing, the company established itself as the country's second largest end-customer parcel delivery service.

Hermes UK's customers include Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, the department store chain, Debenhams, and the leading fashion chain, Next. At the end of 2011, Hermes will begin to set up a country-wide parcel shop network in the UK in cooperation with private retailers in an organisation similar to the German network.

After the successful pilot project in Moscow, a further 400 shops are planned for the coming months in Russia. Alongside Moscow, delivery services could then also be provided under Hermes' umbrella in the large cities of St. Petersburg, Nishnji Nowgorod, Samara, Yekaterinenburg and Nowosibirsk. According to datainsight, the Moscow market research bureau, around 61.9m Russians, roughly 44% of the total population, will be using the Internet by 2013. Already, the world's largest country by surface area is an attractive market for distance selling, with the Otto Group looking to develop operations still further from its leading market position.

Hermes Fulfilment GmbH (HF) achieved a significant increase in its web-based services by founding of two companies specialised in interactive business and the control of multichannel sales.

In cooperation with Meyer & Meyer, the joint venture ADD/UP Connected Channels was founded with the aim of linking together distance selling and over-the-counter retail for European consumer goods retailers and markets.

Hermes NexTec, also founded in 2010, made its debut as a service provider for the Internet fashion and lifestyle markets. The company has its own independent IT environment, and can offer market-compliant and high-performance web-based operations using the tried-and-tested 'Columbus' shop solution.

During the current financial year, Hermes Transport Logistics GmbH (HTL) is planning to expand its network of air and sea freight connections by adding the key area of intercontinental procurement logistics. The European LTL (Less than Truck Load) and FTL (Full-Truck-Load) business will also be consistently expanded to include new destinations. Within Germany, further opportunities for integrated goods transport by road and rail will also be developed.

Hermes Otto International also chalked up further sales growth in 2010. The company, which sources textile, furniture and lifestyle products, saw sales of US$2.5bn, primarily in Asia.

HermesHansecontrol Group, which officially came under the Hermes brand name at the start of May 2011, is also looking to expand its range of approved testing and consultancy services. The goal is to acquire even more customers who want their quality testing carried out for them, for example in the quality control laboratory in Dongguan, China, launched in 2010. The tests, which are carried out close to the Asian production sites, reduce the risk of expensive recall campaigns should articles have to be withdrawn from Europe due to non-compliance with industry and safety standards. Over 70% of goods tested today by HermesHansecontrol already originate from outside the Otto Group.

In terms of outlook, Schneider concluded: "Hermes is optimally positioned to pursue its ambitious growth course during the coming years and thus enhance the market position it has already achieved. To do this we shall continue with the globalisation of our service provision and push ahead with the development of services so that distance sellers always have first class solutions available to enable them to dovetail their various sales channels."

Source: Hermes

3rd June
ASOS expects to be fully operational at Barnsley this month

Online fashion retailer ASOS expects to have its huge new Barnsley warehouse fully operational this month.

But, it has taken an exceptional charge of £12.9m this financial year to reflect the direct costs of the transition to the new site.

The business has been growing rapidly. Full year figures show UK retail sales up 25 per cent and international retail sales up 142 per cent.

Chief executive Nick Robertson said: "We have continued our investment programme to meet anticipated growth targets. Key to this is the ongoing transition to a new 530,000 sq ft warehouse in Barnsley, which will be fully operational by June 2011. We remain positive in our outlook for 2012 and are excited by the opportunities for both our UK and international businesses."

Source: Logistics Manager

3rd June
Yearsley hires logistics chief

Cold storage specialist Yearsley has hired Mark Haslam as head of logistics to oversee its national network of 12 cold stores and a fleet of more than 300 temperature-controlled vehicles.

Haslam has more than 20 years' experience in the sector, with Wincanton, TDG and, more recently, as managing director for the UK transport operations of Suttons Group.

Yearsley chief Harry Yearsley said: "Yearsley Group is responding to the needs of both manufacturing clients and retail customers by implementing a strategy that increases efficiency by improving consolidation and cutting waste delivery miles. Mark has a strong track record in the sector and we have brought him on board to spearhead this programme."

One of the first tasks will be to implement a new fleet management system which will provide additional control over the response time and flexibility of collections and deliveries."

Source: Logistics Manager

2nd June
New livery for Hellmann

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has unveiled a new livery design featuring geese from the Hellmann family crest alongside a slogan demonstrating the organisation's international scale.

It appears on three double deck trailers that will operate on the linehaul trunking network in the north of England.

The livery will be rolled out across local domestic vehicles in the fourth quarter and a first quarter of next year.

Source: Logistics Manager

2nd June
Trusswell switches to Palletforce

Barnsley-based Truswell Haulage has joined Palletforce after a long association with a rival pallet network.

Joint managing director Ian Truswell said: "As part of the measures taken to further improve customer service we have totally reviewed our pallet distribution operations and decided that Palletforce is a forward thinking and quality driven organisation which best suits our needs."

Truswell, which was established more than a century ago, currently operates a fleet of around 80 trucks and handles a range of products from heavy haulage plant and machinery to plastic goods. It has operating sites in Sheffield and Douglas in Lanarkshire.

Source: Logistics Managerr