Supply Chain Analysis news

BP will invest in the RELEX Solutions unified supply chain planning platform for its UK convenience retail business. The platform provides forecasting and replenishment capabilities that use AI technology to anticipate fluctuations in customer demand, thereby driving improvements in on-shelf availability. Over half of BP customers now visit its forecourts for a food-only mission, with fuel-...

We are inviting supply chain professionals in the grocery and consumer packaged goods industries to participate in our latest benchmarking survey on inbound service and on-shelf availability. To participate in the survey please click here. 12 months ago we found most businesses were struggling to achieve their targets for service and availability. Strikingly, survey respondents told us ...

Sainsbury’s has committed to purchasing 100% of the electricity generated at a new wind farm in West Lothian, Scotland. The site features eight of the most powerful onshore wind turbines in the UK, each standing over 200m tall with 76m long blades. At maximum capacity, the wind farm will produce enough power to meet up to 33% of Sainsbury’s total electricity needs, including in stores, ware...

Belgium’s Colruyt Group, in collaboration with warehouse equipment manufacturer STILL, has developed a Self-Driving Vehicle (SDV) to transport pallets to their storage location in distribution centres. The first two SDVs have been deployed in Colruyt’s distribution centre in Halle, Belgium. Colruyt and STILL opted to develop the SDV themselves when they found no automated pallet truck on th...

Disfrimur, a logistics and transport provider, has successfully completed a refrigerated goods transport route powered by hydrogen. The truck operated between Mercadona’s Madrid logistics centres in Ciempozuelos and Getafe. The truck was equipped with a hydrogen-powered combustion engine developed by Westport Fuel Systems. Hydrogen engines offer near-zero CO 2 emissions alongside enhanced tor...

Aldi and TerraCycle have begun a trial to recycle empty blister packaging. Both the plastic and aluminium foil components that would otherwise be disposed of in general waste will be recycled into raw materials that can be used in the manufacture of new products. The nationwide trial will operate by post. Consumers will need to download a free prepaid shipping label from the TerraCycle website...

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has held its annual conference, where it reflected on 10 years of its role in enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). GSCOP requires designated grocery retailers to treat their direct suppliers with a principle of fair trading. The results of the GCA Annual Survey were presented at the conference: Cost Price Increases are the most common...

Amazon has launched an end-to-end supply chain solution for manufacturers using its platform. Suppliers will be able to use ‘Supply Chain by Amazon’ to collect manufactured goods, store inventory in bulk, and replenish stock in Amazon fulfilment centres and other sales channels. Supply Chain by Amazon allows sellers to wholly outsource supply chain operations to Amazon, allowing them to benefi...

The Department for Transport has awarded £8m in funding to 39 roadside services across England to support the upgrading of truck stop facilities for HGV drivers. Government funding will contribute up to 50% of the capital costs of improving facilities, such as showers, rest areas, parking, and security. The Department for Transport has also launched a second window for roadside service oper...

As online grocery continues to grow, it is accounting for a greater proportion of retailers’ business. However, due to the profitability challenges this shift is creating, it is increasingly important for retailers to seek more efficient fulfilment methods. A range of fulfilment strategies are currently being used by grocers globally, including store pick, dark stores, centralised fulfilment c...