Bord na Móna, a €400 million turnover Irish company with interests ranging from power generation and home heating to growing media and waste management services, has re-appointed pallet pooler CHEP.

Thomas Spellissy, Financial Controller at Bord na Móna Horticulture, said: "CHEP has delivered a very high level of customer service in both product quality and account management over the history of our relationship. This, along with being innovative and very cost-competitive was a decisive factor in our decision. I look forward to continuing our partnership with CHEP for the next three years."

CHEP, which has service centres in Dublin, Cork and Belfast, has serviced two divisions of Bord na Móna - horticulture and fuels for nearly 30 years. The contract was retained following a highly competitive tender process in which CHEP's innovative approach, its ability to always meet demand, its large support network along with its reporting and control tool 'Portfolio+PLUS,' were key factors in Bord na Móna's decision.



Bord na Móna's horticultural division is one of Europe's leading suppliers of peat and growing media to both potting soil manufacturers and retail outlets, including some 340 B&Q (DIY) stores in the UK and Ireland. The fuels business owns the leading solid fuel and firelighter brands in the domestic heating market. In addition, there are two 'instant fire' products - Firelog and Firepak - which are well established in Ireland and also fast gaining popularity in the UK.

CHEP pallets are used to move peat and bark horticultural products from the company's site in Kilberry, Co.Kildare to retail outlets in both Ireland and the UK, as well as to a co-packer in Penrith. The fuel range is manufactured in Carbury, Co.Kildare, Derrilough Co.Offaly and Littleton Co.Tipperary and again distributed throughout Ireland.

CHEP's Portfolio+PLUS system enables customers to manage their account online. Tasks such as ordering or arranging pallet collections can be completed, historical and current stock balances checked, transaction reports generated and invoices reviewed in just a few simple clicks. All information concerning Bord na Móna's account is automatically and securely uploaded from their internal system to CHEP's system, so there is no need to re-input all the data.

CHEP is organising a series of three-day training seminars for Bord na Móna staff to ensure they are fully aware of how the supply chain works, to help them understand what it takes to control a process and how to use training, coaching and change management tools to help their organisation to improve their overall management and control. CHEP will ensure that the training is delivered by experienced supply chain professionals.

Daniel Walsh, Commercial Director at CHEP UK & Ireland said: "I am delighted that we have retained this important contract following a very detailed analysis by Bord na Móna. The customer's confidence in our ability to continue to meet our pallet delivery and quality commitments, and in the level of customer service that we have delivered in the past, were important factors in enabling us to win this contract once again."