Cost to serve news

In its Q1 results, DHL’s year-on-year revenue increased by 8.8% to €14.8bn, on track with the company’s full year forecast. Focusing on supply chain optimisation DHL’s Q1 results revealed that revenue at the supply chain division decreased to €53m, following increased investment in its supply chain optimisation programme in the last few months. The optimisation programme aims to significant...

Following a £50m investment at its facility in Harlesden, United Biscuits will invest millions in its UK supply chain, according to press reports. Three centres of excellence In an interview, United Biscuits’ group supply chain director, Kevin McGurk told FoodManufacture that its 2013-15 £50m investment in its Harlesden production site was the first step in a multi-million pound investment sche...

Tesco has collaborated with Microlise, a telematics platform provider, to introduce a new journey management system to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Improving transport and turnaround efficiency The new programme has seen Microlise complete both hardware and software installation across 19 depots and in over 2,500 vehicles. The new systems are designed to reduce the mileage travelled ...

Ocado has developed a new system of robots to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Two types of robot The new system operates by using two types of robot mounted on a frame above the stacks of products, removing the need for aisles. By removing aisles, Ocado can fit more goods into a smaller space, reducing costs and improving efficiency. To protect this development Ocado has filed a pat...

In its Q1 2015 results, PepsiCo has reported it is on track to deliver around $1bn productivity savings by the end of the year. 4.4% growth PepsiCo has delivered 4.4% organic revenue growth in the first quarter of 2015, expanding both gross and operating margins. The global manufacturer is on track to deliver approximately $1bn in productivity savings by the end of the year. PepsiCo’s opera...

General Mills has signed a deal with Culina to operate a new distribution hub that will save 600,000 road miles annually. Multi-modal solution The 26,000 sq m facility will be the central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands arriving by sea from Europe. The DC is located at Port Salford near Manchester, close to the M62, which links it to Leeds and Liverpool. It is also adjacent to the Manch...

The E Leclerc group is to spend €1bn transforming its digital operations over the next three years. Digital transformation The E Leclerc group is to invest €1bn to accelerate its digital transformation over three years. The investment, which aims to create 10,000 jobs, will reach up to 65m shoppers. Centralised logistics In a TV interview, CEO Michel-Edouard Leclerc stated that the money w...

Procter and Gamble (P&G) is considering selling up to 100 of its brands over the next two years in a bid to cut costs and focus on its core product range. Less is more The remaining 70 to 80 brands in P&G’s portfolio account for 90% of its sales, which stood at $83.1 billion in 2014, and more than 95% of its profit. “We’re going to create a faster-growing, more profitable company that is...