Providing a high quality flexible delivery service has resulted in Sweet Port renewing its logistics agreement with Culina Logistics, the chilled food and drink supply chain specialist.
Sweet Port is Europe's leading supplier of branded and private label chilled Italian desserts for supermarket retailers.
The company offers a wide range, including tiramisu, profiteroles, panna cotta, dolce limone, and rum babĂ , in various sizes and formats for many of Britain and Europe's leading chains.
UK customers include Asda, Budgens, the Co-op, Londis, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Somerfield and Waitrose.
The operation is based at Culina's Milton Keynes distribution centre and involves receipt, storage, order processing, picking and final delivery to RDCs (regional distribution centres) of the major multiples.
Picking is done using hand held RDT (radio data transfer scanners) to ensure accuracy and online POD (proof of delivery) provides up to the minute order status with 24-hour customer care included.
Loads are consolidated for despatch via a shared-user, 24-hour service that provides next day deliveries to over 50 retailers. Culina vehicles make around 1,700 deliveries every week.
Part of the service involves Culina effectively managing extra sales volumes with flexible deliveries to support retailer's promotional requirements.
Lyndon Stacey, UK sales manager for Sweet Port, said: "Over the last two years, Culina has provided a highly flexible temperature-controlled supply chain service. Their ability to handle promotional volumes sometimes over 100 times normal weekly volumes has been particularly impressive.
"Extended services, such as co-packing and product customisation, now compliment this and make Culina a one-stop shop for all our logistics requirements in the UK.
"As a supplier of a fresh chilled product with a limited shelf-life we need a logistics partner that can accurately deliver day-in, day-out in a time-sensitive environment to demanding customers."
Culina is working on providing additional services as Sweet Port's business expands and new healthy eating, snacking, and luxury ranges are launched in 2007.
For reader enquiries please contact Andy Newnes • Culina Logistics
Tel: 01630 695000 www.culinalogistics.co.uk