The success of an innovative scheme which sees national palletised freight carrier Pall-Ex support the stationery suppliers to supermarket chain ASDA means that it could be rolled out across other sections of the store.
In September last year, ASDA named Pall-Ex as a nominated carrier, with the multi-award-winning Pall-Ex given the role of collecting freight from the chain's UK stationery vendors.
Pall-Ex then consolidates the goods at its central hub in Leicestershire before delivering it to ASDA's own distribution centre in Doner, ready for forwarding to individual stores as ready made-up stationery consignments.
The scheme has presented a number of benefits to ASDA, including a reduction in congestion at its own distribution centre, increased efficiency due to less work required at the ASDA hub and less lorries on the road - leading to reduced carbon footprint.
And because the initiative has been so successful, particularly with Pall-Ex's next-day collection and delivery promise, ASDA is examining other areas where it could be used, such as children's toys.
Lee Hodgkin, Primary Operations Manager for ASDA, commented: "When we began the relationship with Pall-Ex, we knew we required an offering that delivered on service, produced savings and improved our stores' ability to carry stock.
"The scheme provided by Pall-Ex has done that successfully, in terms of financial and environmental benefits, and we are now actively examining how it can be replicated in other areas of the store."
Pall-Ex operates from its central hub in Leicestershire and unites just over 100 members in a network that can cover every UK postcode every day of the week.
The collection and delivery service is an innovation from Pall-Ex, which prides itself on its ability to develop service offerings that enable it to stay at the forefront of the haulage industry.
Adrian Russell, Pall-Ex managing director, commented: "ASDA is one of an increasing number of retailers who are turning to pallet networks as a cost effective method of outsourcing logistics.
"Pall-Ex has the geographical spread, the logistics knowhow and the desire to provide excellent customer service so that its clients have the tools they need in order to be successful."
Pall-Ex works with a number of different retailers and leading clothing and leisure stores. With one retailer, Pall-Ex delivers goods to the door of each of its 300 high street outlets, unwrapping the freight and then decanting and carrying it into storerooms and recycling the packaging.