Londis is investing £4 million in its fresh food expansion this year.
A major part of this investment is in the supply chain and for the first time ever the entire Londis fleet will have full chilled capacity, enabling the group to supply all Londis retailers with the full fresh range.
This will ensure that all fresh products are delivered to Londis retailers with guaranteed quality and best in class code life. Delivering maximum freshness, conveniently and efficiently is key to delivering a bigger fresh range that includes BBQ products, fresh meat, poultry, fish and bagged salads.
Having already invested in new supply chain systems this new fleet will further maximise fresh flow through, speeding up the journey from manufacturer, to depot, to shop, and ensure that retailers capitalise on shelf life, minimise wastage and manage their fresh offering effectively.
The multi-million pound 72 piece fleet offers a sound and ecological investment for Londis and completes the replacement of the 400-strong fleet operated by Musgrave Retail Partners GB for its Londis and Budgens stores. Musgrave partnered with Mercedes Benz for the tractors and rigid vehicles, which have the latest and most environmentally friendly Euro 5 compliant engines, meeting stringent emission standards and offering improved fuel efficiencies. The vehicle bodies have been sourced from a new business partner, Paneltex.
The new fleet will play a key part in saving over 2.25 million road miles this year with potential savings of 3,165 tonnes of CO2. The capacity for backhauling will also increase dramatically, from 3% three years ago to 25% at the end of 2011.
Says: Scott Wharton, Musgrave Retail Partners GB Supply Chain Director: "We can now offer Londis retailers a complete service for fresh produce and reduce the impact of our operations on the environment."