MIZKAN SELECTS BIBBY DISTRIBUTION FOR MAJOR NEW AMBIENT FOOD CONTRACT
17 May 2013
Bibby Distribution has opened an impressive new 212,000 ft² warehouse and distribution facility and taken on more than 100 additional staff in Corby after securing a major contract with Japanese food manufacturer Mizkan.
The Corby facility will support an initial three year contract with Mizkan, secured following a competitive tender which saw Bibby Distribution selected for its competitiveness and proven grocery sector expertise.
The 30,000 pallet-capacity site will support the customer following its acquisition of a series of famous UK brands during 2012 and 2013, including Sarson’s vinegar, Haywards pickled vegetables and Branston pickle from Premier Foods.
Under the new agreement Bibby Distribution will manage the complete UK warehousing and distribution requirements for the Sarson’s, Haywards and Branston brands. Corby was identified as the optimum location between the different production points of the brands and their outbound customer base. This has minimised inbound and outbound road miles, lead-times and associated costs. The fleet will also trunk ambient products into Corby from the Sarson’s and Haywards production plant in Middleton and the Branston facility in Bury St Edmunds.
Commenting on the new agreement, Paul Shanahan, MD at Mizkan’s UK business, says: “Our acquisitions were carefully selected to provide a platform to support our future growth ambition in the UK while delivering a strategic fit with our global portfolio. We are building a solid foundation for growth in the UK market and we needed a third party logistics provider (3PL) to partner us.
“There is no shortage of 3PLs with warehouses and trucks, but we wanted a supplier with extensive experience serving the grocery market. Not only does Bibby enjoy a
strong relationship with the top four UK food retailers, its bespoke IT platform can provide the transparency we need to run our business more efficiently.”
Bibby Distribution has commenced deliveries of inbound product and will maintain a 20,000 pallet stock-holding for Mizkan in Corby. It will begin delivering an estimated 114,000 pallets annually to retailers nationwide from July onwards and is supporting the contract with 15 new trucks and 25 trailers which will enter service in the coming weeks.
Mark Wilson, a Divisional Director at Bibby Distribution, explains: “Our software platform is key to delivering for Mizkan. It ties everything we do together, from monitoring stock levels to helping the customer improve its route to market.
“From the outset we’ve been able to wrap ourselves around Mizkan’s requirements to deliver a solution which has the flexibility to grow with them. It’s this approach and our proven ability in this sector that’s secured the contract. We look forward to helping them deliver these leading food brands into the marketplace.”
The contract will utilise approximately two-thirds of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) accredited warehouse in Corby, providing Bibby with further room for growth.
The Mizkan Group is a 210 year old privately held international food manufacturer, based in Handa City, Japan. It is a leading vinegar and liquid condiments group with a portfolio that includes vinegar, cooking wines, dressings, pickles and table sauces. The Group has operating facilities around the globe, including Japan, China, UK, USA, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong & Taiwan.
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Notes to editors:
As one of the top ten logistics providers in the UK, Bibby Distribution exists to enable other companies to drive value from their supply chain activities. The company specialises in providing contract logistics, warehousing, distribution, systems integration and added value services to a wide range of customers.
Bibby Distribution operates from 90 locations across the UK, employs 2,500 people and manages 2 million ft² of warehousing space.
The majority of Bibby Distribution’s business is based on long-term partnerships. Its diverse capability also means it can share best practice across the various industry sectors it operates in, from Automotive to FMCG.
The company is part of the £1bn-turnover Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, a 200 year old family owned business-to-business services specialist. It is involved in ship-owning and operation, shallow water accommodation, offshore oil and gas services, contract logistics, financial services, memorial parks, employment law, health & safety advisory services, specialist plant & equipment hire and retail.
www.bibbydist.co.uk
www.bibbygroup.co.uk
Further press information:
James Keeler at Garnett Keeler PR on 020 8647 4467
BDL/073/13
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