Supply Chain Analysis news

The health and beauty retailer has acquired a 49% stake in its hearing provider David Ormerod Hearing Centres in the UK. Boots UK committed to developing hearing care Boots HearingCare currently operates over 340 practices within Boots stores in the UK. The investment demonstrates Boots UK’s commitment to developing hearing care services across the UK enabling customers to have access to wo...

Waitrose is to trial a drive through click and collect service enabling customers to collect their orders without stepping inside the store according to press reports. Extending click and collect Waitrose currently has 157 stores which are click and collected enabled. Starting with the Cheltenham store, the retailer is to enable shoppers to collect their shopping from a collection area in...

Unilever is expanding the use of its demand and inventory software solution, which it uses in the US, across Europe according to press reports. European roll-out Unilever currently utilises software from technology company, Terra Technology, to help improve forecast accuracy and inventory management. Following successes in the US, the manufacturer has decided to roll this technology out...

Sainsbury’s has confirmed that it has signed contracts with milk processors securing its British milk supply for a further three years to 2017. Boosting British sourcing Sainsbury’s has outlined a commitment to double the amount of British food sold by 2020. These new agreements with British milk processors – including a 210m litre deal with Dairy Crest – will enable to retailer to come on...

Spanish retailer, Mercadona, is to roll out an automated order picking system at its new warehouse in Gaudix, Spain, according to press reports. Handling fresh produce Mercadona has decided to install automation its Guadix warehouse which will be in operation at the end of 2013. The system will handle order picking for fresh produce and will be responsible for storing and retrieving of p...

Unilever has announced that it is to open manufacturing facilities in South Asia and Africa. New investment in India Unilever announced that is to invest €50m on a new aerosol deodorant manufacturing facility in Maharashtra, India. This comes after recently announcing a €70m investment in distribution facilities in Thailand and a €75m investment in manufacturing plants in South Africa....

Logistics company, Wincanton, has introduced new tractor units equipped with roof sensors that can reduce fuel consumption by up to 5% according to press reports. Updating the fleet Wincanton has taken delivery of 115 of these innovative units. They will be primarily used within its containers division however their versatility means they can be deployed throughout the business. The logis...

Waitrose is stepping up vertical integration in its supply chain with the opening of a new production facility. New processing facility Waitrose will open the unit within the next three months and it will be based at Dovecote Park’s facility in Yorkshire. This development extends the activities between the two companies into frozen meat products. Dovecote Park has supplied Waitrose with b...

UK dairy company, Dairy Crest, has announced that it is to streamline its’ supply chain operation and reorganise its’ management team. This includes the appointment of a new supply chain director. Annual saving of £5m Dairy Crest has stated that 1 April 2013 will mark the start of the consolidated structure of the organisation. This builds on the sale of the stake in Yoplait in 2009, the ...

Morrisons will buy 49 stores from the film rental chain, Blockbuster, and convert them into ‘Morrisons M’ convenience stores. South East expansion Morrisons has purchased the stores in order to increase its presence in the south east and grow its convenience offering. The retailer’s ambition is to open at least 70 stores by the end of 2013 and these stores mark a big step towards this rea...