SPAR UK & Oakland in running for green supply chain award

Jul 04, 2013 Warehousing Ireland News 0

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SPAR UK and Oakland International are delighted at their selection as finalists in the category of DAMCO Green Supply Chain Initiative at this year’s prestigious Retail Week Supply Chain Awards 2013.

The SPAR UK Consolidation Centre, in partnership with Oakland International, was set up to reduce food miles, carbon emissions and food wastage, and has delivered exceptional results.

Innovative and hugely effective, the scheme involves collaboration throughout the supply chain, including SPAR central office, RDC’s, retailers and their suppliers as well as Oakland International.

The initiative delivers huge savings in carbon reduction and road miles travelled through the use of efficient and sustainable supply chain routes, underpinned by Oakland International’s environmental policies of replacing energy rich with energy efficient heating and lighting systems.

Vinesh Patel, SPAR UK Supply Chain Controller, said: “The strength of our partnership with Oakland International and the enormous support of all our stakeholders has helped us to deliver what now is a world class supply chain.

“The ability to offer a daily delivery of chilled goods for all suppliers, while reducing road miles, was a massive challenge – but an amazing 5.5 million miles are now saved per year, marking an 87% saving compared to direct deliveries,” said Patel.

“The success of the scheme helps us show that we are serious about being a green retailer,” he said.

Dean Attwell added: “By working together, our growth partnership continues to deliver positive results. We are able to provide both an environmentally and commercially beneficial service for all concerned; our suppliers, end retailers and in-store customers.

“Both SPAR UK and Oakland International are fully committed to reducing road miles and carbon emissions, and launching the SPAR UK National Consolidation Centre has allowed us to do just that.”

The Green Supply Chain award recognises a solution at any part of the supply chain which reduces its impact on the environment and has a clear environmental and business benefit.

Category winners will be announced at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London on Thursday September 26th 2013.

Notes:
Founded in 1998, Oakland International is an * award winning family owned multi temperature distribution and contracting packing specialist, operating both UK and Ireland depots, for food and consumer goods using ambient, chilled and frozen transportation into major UK and Irish retail, wholesale, discount and convenience markets.
 
Key industry associations include; British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), Road Hauliers Association (RHA), Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, British Contract Manufacturers and Packers Association (BCMPA) and accredited by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
 

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