Specialist Gist site for Marks & Spencer forecourt stores
June 2008
Picking up something delicious for dinner at short notice is now easier than ever with the almost 100 Marks & Spencer Simply Food stores situated in BP Connect forecourts around the country.
And to ensure there is always fresh food available on the shelves, this week supply chain specialist Gist has opened their Maylands depot in Hemel Hempstead, a dedicated distribution centre for this growing network of convenience stores.
Gist has been operating Marks & Spencer’s distribution network for the forecourt stores since their introduction 2005. Already providing supply chain services for Marks & Spencer’s existing stores, the additional product volume and transport routes required to stock the forecourt shelves were initially integrated into Gist’s established food distribution operations.
With the success of these convenience outlets, Gist and Marks & Spencer agreed to focus on further improving supply chain efficiency and create new solutions to better meet the unique demands of these smaller, high turnover stores.
The resulting single, centralised warehouse and transport operation has given Gist and Marks & Spencer the opportunity to focus on introducing a variety of changes to the operation to create even higher levels of service. For example; voice picking and pallet tracking will result in improved customer service, better product availability and a reduction in waste.
Delivery routes are actively managed to ensure optimised vehicle scheduling, to reduce food miles and the number of trucks needed on the road. The use of vehicle tracking means that should any problems arise on route they can be addressed quickly, and the store advised immediately, minimising the impact on store operations.
Additionally, the Gist site plans to consolidate deliveries of Marks & Spencer and BP branded products, reducing the overall number of deliveries required to each forecourt.
Dave Kirby, Gist site manager for the Maylands operation said: “We have worked collaboratively and effectively with our customer to ensure the new operation is a success. I am excited about the opportunity our team has to demonstrate terrific value through the service we will provide from Maylands depot.”
Liz Doran, programme manager Marks & Spencer said: “Marks and Spencer are committed to providing outstanding service to our customers. We have worked with Gist to continue this important ethos with the newly developed Maylands depot in Hemel Hempstead.”
BP’s UK convenience retail director, Karen Hubbard, said: "This is a key milestone in delivering our industry leading offer to consumers and in the development of BP's relationship with Marks & Spencer. The new depot will help us consistently maintain the highest availability and standards of the fresh, quality products within store which our customers have come to enjoy."
Ian Rennie, Gist foods controller said: “Gist’s dedication to providing excellence and added value to our customers has driven the creation of this new site and the specialist service it provides. We are very proud of our history with Marks & Spencer and we make it a priority to find new ways to help them better serve their customers.”
The Gist Maylands depot, based in Hemel Hempstead, opened on Sunday 8th June 2008.
For further information, please contact:
Kate Brown
0782 687 5282
kbcomms@tiscali.co.uk
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Notes to Editors
About Gist:
Gist combines leading edge experience and expertise to transform supply chains. With industry-specific understanding, know-how and excellence, Gist's solutions bring end-to-end visibility and implementation, from concept to delivery.
Gist's 5,000 employees operate out of 35 locations, providing a full range of intellectual and asset-based business offerings in the UK and continental Europe.
Gist is the largest importer of flowers into the UK and is the 6th largest contracts logistics company in the country.
Gist's customers (including British Airways, Marks & Spencer, Carlsberg UK, and Dutch Flower Group) operate in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors, including grocery, electronics and gas.
As part of The Linde Group, with around 50,000 employees working in 100 countries worldwide, Gist also benefits from Linde's global capability, synergy and scale.
