20.01.05
LINKING SUPPLY CHAIN TO HIGH STREET SUCCESS
WOOLWORTHS APPOINTS GIST AS NEW LOGISTICS PARTNER
Supply chain specialist Gist has won a new £50m contract with high street giant Woolworths to manage a new strategically important Distribution Centre on behalf of the retailer.
The site, situated in the south of England, will be responsible for fast moving stock for all of Woolworths’ stores.
Tim Owrid, Head of Distribution at Woolworths, commented: “We are delighted to be creating this new partnership with Gist. This is a major step forward in the development of Woolworths’ supply chain and is a key supporting factor for us as we drive sales in 2005 and beyond.”
Woolworths is one of the biggest names in the UK high street, with 806 stores across the country. Its main focus is on the home, family and entertainment, offering its customers value-for-money on an extended range of products – ranging from childrens’ clothes, toys and games to stationery, homewares, CDs and DVDs and confectionery.
Martin Gwynn, Managing Director at Gist said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with the Woolworths team to ensure they are able to secure maximum value from their supply chain. With competition on the high street hotter than ever, an effective supply chain is now recognised as being fundamental to successful performance. For high street retailers increasingly short lead times are crucial to ensure the best possible match between supply and demand for any product”
Additional High Street Win
Further evidence of Gist’s ability to add value up the extended supply chain is also demonstrated in the extension of its partnership with one of the UK’s fastest growing casual clothing brands, Fat Face.
Gist’s specialist consulting team is working with Fat Face to design and implement its supply chain strategy.
Notes to editors:
Gist combines leading edge experience and expertise to transform supply chains through intelligent application of innovative leading edge technology, unique solutions tailored to customers’ strategies, managing change and embracing and enhancing the supply chain proposition. With industry specific experience, expertise and excellence, Gist’s solutions bring end-to-end visibility and implementation, from concept to delivery.
Gist, based in the United Kingdom, has its head office at Basingstoke in Hampshire. However, Gist’s 4,500 employees operate out of 28 locations, providing a full range of intellectual and asset-based business offering in the UK, continental Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America.
Gist’s customers (including Ocado, Marks & Spencer, British Airways, Carlsberg UK and Budgens) operate in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors, including grocery, electronics, apparel and gas.
As part of the BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, Gist also benefits from BOC’s global capability, synergy and scale.
To find out more about Gist, for photography or to arrange an interview with the Gist team please contact the Gist press office:
Tel: 01256 891111
Fax: 01256 891122
Email: Michele.mervin@gistworld.com
