CHEP, the global leader in pallet and container pooling services, has signed a contract with Unilever in Turkey to supply an estimated 800,000 pallets per annum to support its domestic distribution.
Unilever had previously been using white wood exchange pallets, however, sourcing the quality and quantity of pallets it required to meet its production demands was proving difficult to manage.
Alpaslan Üzmez, Supply Chain Director, Unilever Turkey said: "We are delighted to have reached an agreement with CHEP, because it will allow us to concentrate solely on our distribution operations rather than being distracted and having to manage the sourcing and recovery of white wood pallets."
Unilever will receive deliveries of CHEP 1200x800mm pallets from the CHEP service centre in the Gebze industrial area to the east of Istanbul, into its production facilities located nearby in Dilovasi and Skerpiniar. The pallets will then be used to ship a range of Unilever's products to its retail customers across Turkey.
CHEP formally launched its pallet business in Turkey in July 2009 after putting in place the necessary infrastructure. This represents CHEP's first major customer in Turkey.
Emir Güçlü, Country Manager, CHEP Turkey said: "This is a significant milestone for CHEP in Turkey. We are delighted that Unilever has been able to appreciate the benefits to be gained by using CHEP's pooled pallets, thereby allowing it to concentrate on its core business activities. After carefully considering CHEP's value proposition, Unilever has concluded that the improved efficiencies it will gain from not having to divert time and resources to manage its pallet requirements more than justifies its decision to contract with CHEP.
"We are in ongoing discussions with a number of other leading fast moving consumer goods manufacturers in Turkey and I am confident they will also in due course decide to switch to use CHEP pallets, due to the cost savings and efficiency benefits they will gain as a result."
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