While consolidation is suddenly in fashion with suppliers, manufacturers and retailers at every level, Boughey Distribution continues to lead the industry with its innovative consolidated solutions.

The logistics world has changed beyond all recognition since Boughey was founded over thirty years ago as a bulk milk haulage company.  Nevertheless, the strategy that underpinned those modest beginnings is still at work today in an operation that encompasses over 1,000,000 ft² of warehousing space and a fleet of over 420 vehicles and trailers.

That strategy is shared-user services: a business model designed to help Boughey’s customers meet the availability and delivery targets of the multiple grocery retailers while driving down costs and allowing as much control as possible to remain with suppliers.

With 30 to 40 of Boughey’s larger customers providing a backbone to support shared user warehousing and 135 smaller clients contributing top-up stock in shared deliveries, it’s a system that offers flexibility, efficiency and economy for all parties.

Central to its success has been the drive by retailers over the last 10 years to push stock back up the supply chain, leading to a need for leaner, more frequent deliveries to RDCs of the kind Boughey is perfectly placed to provide.

So while ‘little and often’ means frequent, wasteful part-load deliveries for supplier dedicated operations, the critical mass of similar products being delivered to the same delivery points by Boughey means they can establish regular fixed booking times for consolidated loads in a seamless service that benefits retailers and suppliers alike.

Boughey MD Keith Forster believes it is an offer that can only grow in appeal as consolidation becomes essential for any business that wants to remain competitive:

“With moves by the IGD to champion consolidation on a cost and sustainability basis, we’re seeing major players like Nestlé, United Biscuits and others seeking to share space on one another’s delivery fleets to create consolidated loads. While it’s a radically different way of doing business to them, it’s second nature to us.

“No-one is in a better position to offer a more complete consolidated solution. Our relationship with the major multiples, particularly as nominated PCCs for Tesco, Sainsbury and Somerfield, gives us real insight into the demands of the retailers and the potential issues confronting suppliers.”

The Boughey service is supported by an advanced stock control IT infrastructure providing accurate and timely information to aid the flow through of suppliers’ products to retailers. The company also takes care of Chep pallet management, relieving customers of what can be a time consuming and costly responsibility, and provides a full onsite co-packing service.

The end result is a total shared consolidation platform that’s flexible and dynamic enough to cope with the demands of today’s fast moving retail industry… and whatever challenges that lie ahead over the next thirty years.

Wardle-based Boughey Distribution, lead operator in the UK’s ambient grocery distribution and storage sector, has appointed Bernard Murphy as Depot Operations Director, and Iain Lochrie as Customer Service Manager.

In the current climate, these appointments are significant, as Keith Forster, MD of Boughey explains: “This reorganisation signals commitment to the growth of the business. Boughey aim to provide the ultimate tailor made logistics package for clients, whatever their size, and the important investments we make in developing our staff and advancing our facilities, ensures we continue to deliver above and beyond our customers’ expectations.”

In the past year alone, Boughey has invested over £1 million in personnel development programmes, alongside staff facilities, driver training and recruitment. The new roles aim to enhance strategy toward customer servicing throughout the logistics business’ operation.

Bernard joins the team, having held senior positions at Princes Foods, Iceland, and S&A Foods, and consequently brings substantial experience of Boughey’s customers, their customers and their suppliers. On his new role, Bernard says: “I know first hand the difficulties to be faced in this business - and it’s all linked to the bottom line. Boughey recognises this and seeks to operate as much more than a haulage business. We need to offer 100% service level and give each customer what they need in order not to push any additional costs, or operational obstacles, along the chain. It’s all about pro-activity in every aspect, reading the market and anticipating and servicing immediately the expectations of the retailer – reactivity is not enough. ”

Keith Forster endorses this view: - “Retail strategy dictates how we develop. The move to de-stock is a case in point. Boughey benefits from a healthy customer spread - from large companies holding stock of up to 38,000 pallets, to smaller customers with just 20 pallets. Mutual benefits exist and everyone gains from the established consolidation expertise that Boughey offers.  All within the chain have their value and we must understand and focus on delivering excellence against their understandably varied demands. Bernard’s experience will shape a smarter customer interface and will be invaluable to the development of the Boughey business operations as a whole.”

Iain Lochrie’s new role as Customer Service Manager will encompass the administration, scheduling, quality control and returns functions – all of which have been amalgamated into a single department for more efficient, responsive customer servicing. Of the new approach, Iain says: - “Boughey has grown dramatically in the last 5 years and maintained good rapport with customers. But more can be done to monitor customer needs and build dialogue to sharpen the service we offer. The newly restructured department, with a Customer Service Advisor allocated to each customer, will guide customers through all aspects of the business, improve communications and ensure that satisfaction is a priority.”
One area of immediate change is with Boughey’s telephone priority system, ensuring all enquiries are handled efficiently. Additional training for Customer Service staff – involving immersion in all areas of the business, to broaden exposure to customer issues and expectations - aims to create a closer ‘team’ culture and promote more flexible, responsive customer servicing.

Forster concludes: “Boughey’s investment in people with industry foresight, new technologies and process improvements assists greatly in responding to the developing needs of customers and is key to success in our service offering. These new roles will help evolve the service to deliver against the rapidly-changing retail pressures and put more commitment toward working in tandem with our customers to provide a fully integrated logistics solution at all times.”

Boughey Distribution has announced one of its biggest contract wins since the recent launch of its new state-of-the-art warehouse facility.

The Wardle-based logistics specialist has won a two-year contract with leading international food group, Associated British Foods (ABF).

ABF is a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with sales of £6.8 billion and 85,000 employees in 43 countries. The major international manufacturer produces branded and private label grocery products, many of which are market-leading household names. Following the acquisition of Patak’s Foods last year ABF has brought their ethnic brands together under a single division known as AB World Foods which includes G Costa as well as Patak’s. 

The contract commences on 31st March and involves the storage and distribution for AB World Foods’ brands at the new £15 million Wardle storage development – G Costa (Blue Dragon, Maille mustards, French’s mustards and Tabasco sauces) and Patak’s.
 
Boughey has previously provided logistics solutions for Patak’s 300-strong product range and will now additionally store approximately 10,000 pallets of G Costa’s 800 product lines. The new total combined annual pallet throughput will be in excess of 140,000 pallets.
 
Paul Wildman, Supply Chain Director at AB World Foods said: “The logistics package that Boughey Distribution is able to deliver for these two brands will undoubtedly offer increased efficiencies and support the streamlining of these key brands’ UK logistics.”

G Costa manufactures a proportion of its products in Poland and imports a substantial volume from SE Asia, Continental Europe and the Americas. Until moving to Boughey, it operated its own warehouse in Aylesford, Kent and used a number of third party hauliers on a regional basis throughout the UK. Boughey’s 140-strong fleet will now deliver to the brand’s complete UK distribution network and service all the major retailers, including Tesco, Asda and J Sainsbury.

Keith Forster, MD at Boughey Distribution, added: “Delivering daily to all the major retailers enables us to develop and invest in leading consolidation programmes which save our customers time and money. This new contract is testament to how well our dedicated staff and service have supported Patak’s UK distribution over the past 2 years. Now with the additional G Costa brands we can strengthen the offering and efficiencies for ABF even further.”

A significant proportion of G Costa’s throughput (15%) is exported to a variety of countries in Europe and further afield; Boughey’s tailor-made logistics service will also incorporate a large stickering operation within its co packing facility to facilitate the sale of products via multilingual labelling.

Forster concludes: “We provide the ultimate tailor-made logistics package for all our clients, whatever their size, and pride ourselves on our dedicated approach to customer service. Our unique expertise enables us to offer truly seamless solutions.”

This will be one of the most important years for local Wardle-based Boughey Distribution, a pioneering player in the UK’s ambient grocery distribution and storage sector.

The distribution division of NWF Group plc has opened the doors to its brand new £15 million storage facility and staff recently celebrated moving into their new head offices.

The investment made by the leading local employer doubles the distribution company’s storage capacity and is creating over 250 new jobs for the area, including clerical, technical, management and warehousing roles. Boughey currently employs over 600 people at its Wardle and Deeside sites and invests heavily in supporting the local workforce.

Keith Forster, MD of Boughey Distribution, describes the new development as a key milestone for the company and adds that investing in the right people is crucial: “We provide the ultimate tailor made logistics package for all our clients, whatever their size, and the important investments we make in advancing our facilities and developing our staff ensures we continue to deliver above and beyond our customers’ expectations.

“We pride ourselves on our dedicated approach to developing our people and invest heavily in training and staff performance.”

In the past year alone, Boughey has invested over £1 million in developing personnel development programmes, staff facilities, driver training and recruitment.

Forster concludes: “Investing in new people, technologies and initiatives is key to Boughey’s success and we are proud of the company’s achievement to date.”

The company previously doubled its storage facility five years ago and has since increased its turnover from £8.5 million to £27.5 million, this new £15 million storage development is expected to further increase the company’s turnover to over £40 million this year.

Achieving on-time deliveries is crucial for a successful business and progressive, high-volume biscuit manufacturer Hill Biscuits knew that it needed the right logistics supplier to improve its record in this area. As one of the UK’s leading ambient grocery distribution and storage companies, Boughey Distribution Ltd was glad to step up to the mark to help Hill Biscuits put its logistics back on track.
Based in Ashton-under-Lyne just outside Manchester, Hill Biscuits supplies many major retailers, discount stores and the wholesale/cash and carry trade, as well as exporting its products around the world and contract manufacturing for other companies. Needing a logistics supplier who could provide a better, more professional customer service to move the business closer to its target of consistent on-time deliveries, Hill Biscuits looked at Boughey Distribution before comparing its services to a couple of other companies. Having researched the services on offer and already knowing some of Boughey’s other clients, Hill Biscuits went back to Boughey on recommendation.
Said Hill Biscuits’ Managing Director Steven Wetherby, “On-time deliveries and good consolidation were the key factors for us. We always need storage for around 1000 pallets at a time and deliveries are generally straightforward full pallet loads, although there is a very small number of mixed pallet deliveries. However, delivery size can vary from a few pallets to a full load, and we wanted to get as close to on-time delivery as possible whatever the load. After a settling-in period, communications are well-established and we are achieving good delivery times.”
Said Keith Forster, Boughey’s MD, “We are pleased to be able to offer Hill Biscuits with a cost-efficient, superior service. Since the switch over, we have been able to improve delivery times considerably, which proves that value for money and quality of service can be mutually compatible with the right distributor.”