Tibbett and Britten to manage Homebase operations
Following the award of a long-term warehouse management contract to Tibbett & Britten Group plc in February 2000, Homebase, a DIY retailer in the UK, has placed all its primary and secondary transport operations in the hands of the logistics service provider. (4/8/2003)
Commencing on 1 July 2003, the contract nearly doubles Tibbett & Britten’s business with Homebase, taking total revenues to around £33 million (€48 million) a year.
The work covers the primary collection of product from suppliers throughout the UK mainland, plus secondary deliveries to all Homebase’s 275 stores across the country. The full range of merchandise will be handled – from DIY (home improvement) goods to gardening products, garden furniture and soft furnishings.
Tibbett & Britten is taking over the management of 95 commercial vehicle tractor units and 205 trailers from the two incumbent transport contractors. Transport fleets will continue to be based at Homebase distribution centres at Brackmills, Park Farm and Wellingborough (all three already operated by Tibbett & Britten), plus Swindon (operated by Homebase).
Approximately 120 personnel will transfer into Tibbett & Britten under TUPE regulations on their existing terms and conditions.
Until 2000, Homebase undertook most of its warehousing in-house. At that time it outsourced the management of its 250,000 sq ft (23 000 sq m) national distribution centre at Brackmills, Northamptonshire, to Tibbett & Britten, together with one of the two regional distribution centres – the 315,000 sq ft (29 200 sq m) ‘Northern DC’ at Park Farm, near Wellingborough, Northants. Shortly afterwards Tibbett & Britten set-up a new 275,000 sq ft (27 000 sq m) International Supply Centre at Wellingborough, which specialises in handling the retailer’s imports.
Homebase was formerly part of the J Sainsbury plc group and was acquired by GUS plc towards the end of 2002.
The UK-based international Tibbett & Britten Group employs 38,500 people in logistics in 34 countries on five continents. 2002 revenues exceeded £1.5 billion (€2 200 million).
