New major UK retail contract for Exel
Exel, the UK-based logistics provider, has won a major new contract with international DIY retailer, B&Q. The deal, which is over a five year period, will involve the management of a 800,000 sq ft (72,000 sq m), semi-automated distribution centre (DC) in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
In addition to the management of the facility, Exel will provide an inter-depot and local store delivery network. The facility will not become operational until late 2005 and has the potential to be extended to 100,000 sq ft (90,000 sq m).
B&Q works with a number of logistics providers both in the UK and on an international basis. Tibbett & Britten manages a 46,400 sq m import centre at Scunthorpe, managing inbound delivery from the port and secondary distribution into B&Q’s own network. T&B also manages two of B&Q’s six distribution centres, one in Radlett, Hertfordshire and the other in the north of England, Runcorn. Hays also operates a number of consolidation centres for the client in addition to a distribution centre at a site in Doncaster.
Wincanton provides the retailer with temperature controlled distribution of plants, many of which originate in the Netherlands. The UK pallet network, Pall-Ex has recently been named as B&Q’s nominated carrier. This will involve Pall-Ex’s members collecting consignments from B&Q’s suppliers and consolidating shipments at a facility before onward delivery to one of B&Q’s distribution centres. Also in the UK, TDG provides warehousing for imported goods at a site in Lincolnshire as part of a three year contract which comes to an end in mid-2004.
On an international basis, B&Q partners with Maersk Logistics as its sole provider in China. It is planning to develop the number of its retail outlets in the market substantially and Maersk will be providing logistics support for this growth.
