How boughey’s chep pallet management systems are taking the load off customers’ minds.

They can be seen at goods depots, warehouses and behind the scenes at retailers all over the country; the ubiquitous wooden pallets on which every last box, bottle and carton must make the journey from manufacturer to supermarket shelf.

But just who is responsible for them… and how do they ensure there’s always a pallet available when and where it’s required?

For Boughey customers at least, managing this essential element in the supply chain is made easier by the provision of a dedicated pallet controller.

Che Kerin is the man responsible both for the pallets that pass through Boughey’s warehouses every day, as well as the pallets in wider circulation at any one time.

It’s his job not just to ensure consignments are palletised on arrival, but to manage the circulation of pallets between Boughey, the retailers’ regional distribution centres and back again.

In some cases, it also extends to providing pallets at UK customers’ manufacturing points. Making Boughey the custodian of a complete end-to-end pallet supply chain.

The payoff for the customer isn’t simply in the savings they make at every stage in that chain. It’s also in the time they save and the hassle they avoid by not having to manage the intricacies of the system for themselves.

As Che explains: ‘We ensure everything runs to plan so customers don’t have to be distracted from their core business chasing pallet returns, processing pallet control vouchers or overseeing the issue of new pallets.

It’s all about getting the balance of pallet intake and outtake right… and efficient communication between the customer, the retailers, the drivers and, of course, our CHEP representative.’

A world wide resource

With the exception of deliveries to Sainsbury’s distribution centres, all Boughey’s pallet management processes are integrated within the CHEP pallet pool.

The dark blue CHEP pallet is a common fixture in logistics the world over, and the operation behind it allows manufacturers, retailers and hauliers alike to share the assets and the economies of a combined resource.

Martyn Nicholls, Boughey Transport Operations Director, comments: ‘Not every distributor offers a full CHEP management service, but we see it as a way of adding real value and taking away what is often a big headache for our customers.

We have a good relationship with our CHEP representative that allows us to offer clients a premium service that fosters better relationships with their retail customers by keeping costs down and damage to stock to an absolute minimum.’