Two big regional hauliers are benefitting from a unique transport collaboration between confectionary firms Mars and Nestlé on seasonal deliveries to Tesco.
Since the project launched in September, some 12,000km of empty running has been eliminated, and more than 60 loads have been consolidated.
Although Nestlé is involved in a similar transport-sharing operation with United Biscuits, the firm has never been this closely involved with a competitor such as Mars.
Through close co-operation with Tesco’s logistics department, the two firms have been able to consolidate part-load orders onto one truck for delivery to Tesco DCs in Medway, Southampton and Belfast.
Handling the loads to the two English DCs is Glastonbury haulier Sparks Transport, through its membership of consortium Jigsaw, with Woodside Haulage doing the Northern Irish work.
All journeys start at Nestlé’s Bardon, Leics DC with south-bound traffic then picking up Mars product from its DC at Desborough, Northants and Belfast lorries collecting goods from another Mars DC at Melton Mowbray, Leics.
Ricahard Hastings, Nestlé’s head of planning and delivery, says that the reduced number of deliveries also helps Tesco: “It really struggles for booking slots at this time of year so it helps everybody out.”
He adds that if the trial is viewed as a success then the two firms will look to extend it to seasonal deliveries for Easter.
Andy Humpherson, commercial director of Jigsaw, adds: “We are actually working with two other customers to pull together a similar solution.”