Bacardi-Martini Ltd manages distribution and promotional activities for a range of market leading brands including Bacardi Rum, Martini Vermouth, Martini Asti, Grey Goose Vodka, 42 Below Vodka, Cazadores Tequila, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Bacardi Breezer, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Tuaca, Chambord, Drambuie, Woodford Reserve and Finlandia Vodka.
The successful promotion of these brands relies on the effective and professional handling of point of sale (POS) materials, promotional merchandise and other advertising material. The POS storage and distribution operation is responsible for ensuring some 160,000 multi-product point of sale kits, and 16,000 additional daily orders, per annum are processed and delivered to around 60,000 bars and pubs and 100 field staff throughout the UK.
In line with continual improvement targets for cost and efficiency, Bacardi Martini brought in Davies & Robson to help identify a new distribution partner which could manage and operate a complex set of services including the provision of a web-site to allow field support staff to place on-line orders, central allocation of stock to support national campaigns, kit assembly, delivery against agreed deadlines and recording of stock levels and expenditure by some 15 individual brands.
Davies & Robson managed the entire process from researching potential suppliers, defining and documenting the service required and managing the tender process to evaluating submissions, assisting with contract negotiation and co-ordinating the completion of the final contract documentation.
Following a thorough and carefully managed tender exercise, Bacardi Martini Ltd appointed
specialist POS fulfillment provider, MDA, based on its extensive experience in point of sale distribution, suitable warehouse facilities and market leading IT capability.
Melissa Wells, Supply Chain Director for Bacardi-Martin Ltd said: "Davies & Robson's experience and involvement in the process allowed us to award the contract with the confidence that our new distribution partner is the right one for Bacardi-Martini and has the experience and resources to manage such a complex, fast-moving and time-sensitive operation."