ACS&T Extends 3663 Consolidation Scheme
November 20, 2009
ACS&T Logistics, the UK’s leading provider of frozen-food transport and storage have secured a three year contract with the UK’s leading foodservice company, 3663 First for Foodservice. This new contract is the extension of a long term relationship between the companies.
Under the terms of the new contract, ACS&T will continue to provide a National Consolidation Service (NCS) from their depot in Wolverhampton. The service, which offers case consolidated distribution to each of 3663’s 32 depots, allows 3663 suppliers to only pay for the proportion of pallet space they use, rather than by the pallet for delivery of stock.
The NCS offers the 3663 suppliers a simple and cost-effective route to market that reduces stockholding throughout the 3663 supply chain. Suppliers deliver, or ACS&T collect their stock into the centrally located Wolverhampton store and this stock is then visible to the 3663 depots through the ACS&T real-time web-based stock management system. The depots can then order any of those stock lines in the scheme in the exact quantities required to satisfy their orders. The suppliers are then charged only for the proportion of pallet space that their stock uses. Administration is reduced for all parties involved as suppliers manage their stocks to minimums on the system and are notified electronically if stocks fall below agreed levels. Automated notification of deliveries are sent to the suppliers to generate their invoicing.
Carl Robinson, Sales and Commercial Director of ACS&T said:
“We began running the service from our Grimsby depot with a few suppliers in 1994, and since then, the service has grown tremendously. As a commitment to the success of the scheme, we opened a more central depot in Wolverhampton in 2008 to make the service viable for more suppliers by potentially reducing the primary movement of their stock. We also appointed a dedicated Supplier Service Co-ordinator to work with 3663 and its suppliers to ensure maximum availability of stocks to satisfy orders.
In short, everything is geared towards supporting 3663 suppliers and working with them to avoid costly shortages for both them and 3663. Thanks to the success of the scheme, we now work with over 110 suppliers and 1500 different product lines.”
Stuart Warburton, Supply Chain Controller at 3663 First for Foodservice said…
“We have been working closely with ACS&T for many years, and over that period, we have developed an exceptional relationship. ACS&T genuinely understand our business, and this has enabled us to remove unnecessary waste from the supply chain, to the benefit of our suppliers and customers.
We are delighted to have extended this relationship with ACS&T through a renewed contract, as they have constantly been able to meet our demanding expectations in terms of service, cost and innovation. We look forward to developing the national consolidation scheme further in the coming years.”
ACS&T Logistics is divided into three operating divisions: Temperature Controlled, Production Support and Complete Packing. Its services are provided from four centres: Grimsby (Headquarters), Wolverhampton, Tewkesbury and Scarborough. The business currently operates 12 cold stores, 3 ambient stores, extensive co-packing facilities and large, dedicated and shared-user multi-temp transport fleets. ACS&T is accredited with the BRC Storage & Distribution certificate across all sites and temperature regimes in addition to the ISO9001 and 14001.