Palmer and Harvey to combine wholesale and direct vans sales teams

Palmer and Harvey (P&H) is merging its wholesale and direct van sales teams, which it claims will bring added benefits to independents.

Until now, the wholesale structure has enabled retailers to order from a range of more than 12,000 SKUs delivered to their store and unpacked by the driver.

The direct van sales format has provided what the company describes as ‘a mobile cash & carry service’ for high demand, essential items. Van sales reps have also offered customers category and merchandising advice.

P&H managing director wholesale Martin Ward said the new single sale force would combine the benefits of pre-ordering multi-temperature products with the ‘flexible and immediate’ van sales service.

He added: “The current structure has allowed a certain degree of duplication in having two sales operations, which often overlap.

“The new structure, which comes into force in December, allows one single point of contact for our valued independent retailers.

“It will enable us to offer a more comprehensive service, which is superior and different to our competitors.”

Ward said that retailers would have access to a sales force of more than 300.

Tel: Palmer and Harvey (01273) 222100