Weekly news summary 5th December 2014

HEADLINES THIS WEEK:

– BIDVEST 3663 REVAMPS DISTRIBUTION NETWORK 
– FOODSERVICE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS GROWTH ACROSS ALL ‘KEY’ CHANNELS
– NEW PARTNERS FOR GROWTH RETAIL PANELLIST REVEALED

CHEPSTOW OPENING FOR BIDVEST 3663

Bidvest 3663 has opened a 170,000 sq ft regional distribution centre in Chepstow at a cost of £16 million. It is the wholesaler’s largest RDC.

The development, which serves customers in South Wales and the West Country, follows consolidation of the company’s Bristol and Severnbridge sites.

Midlands managing director Dave Hodgson said the new depot would also support other locations with frozen products.

He added that the Swansea operation has been relocated to a refurbished site nearby.

The Chepstow depot (pictured) carries around 5,100 product lines and has a fleet of 30 vehicles making approximately 1,700 drops a week and delivering more than 70,000 items.

This and the Swansea opening follow those in Wakefield and Bicester.

Tel: Bidvest 3663 (0370) 3663 000

NEW PERFORMANCE SOLUTION FOR WHOLESALERS UNVEILED

A newly-produced monthly report for foodservice wholesalers shows good growth across all key channels, including drinks up 21.9% and chilled food 7.1%.

James Bielby: ‘We are creating a robust read of the market.’

Compiled by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors in conjunction with CGA Strategy, the service is being made available to all FWD members and other participating wholesale businesses. The report concludes that the combined contributors drove growth in the channel by 6.6% in MAT value terms in the period to October.

FWD chief executive James Bielby said that the consultancy firm would create a ‘performance benchmarking solution for wholesalers’.

He added: “Foodservice offers good growth opportunities for both suppliers and wholesalers, but in order for stakeholders to take full advantage they have to be able to measure the effectiveness of their investment in the channel.

“By bringing together our wholesaler members and CGA, we are creating a robust read of the market, giving them the tools to make the most of the potential in this customer base.”

Tel: FWD (01323) 724952 

UNILEVER EXPANDS PARTNERS FOR GROWTH PANEL

David Charman (pictured) has joined the retailer advisory panel of Partners for Growth, Unilever’s category advice programme.

The panel was launched in 2009 to help convenience retailers improve business and category performance.

Multi-award winner Charman recently doubled the size of his store – a 24-hour SPAR forecourt in West Malling, Kent. It offers fresh, local produce from about 60 suppliers and includes a butchery counter with two full-time specialists.

Partners for Growth has offered advice to convenience retailers for 10 years and has helped them improve sales by up to 42%. The programme was voted ‘best merchandising advice’ by C&C/wholesalers six years in a row in Cash & Carry Management’s Awards scheme.

Tel: Unilever (0800) 010109