KFC UK has contracted foodservice distributor 3663 First for Foodservice to supply food, beverages and disposables to its 680 restaurants throughout the UK. The five-year contract, worth an estimated £1Bn, is being operated by 3663’s logistics division.
Chris Fells, director of product excellence for KFC UK, comments: “The quality of our customer service relies on us having the right products available at the right time in every restaurant. It’s vital that we have the support of an organisation with an equally strong service culture, willing to pull out all the stops when necessary.”
He continues: “We looked at a number of providers, but 3663’s reputation for performance and value, and its absolute focus on its customers’ needs, sold us on the company.”
Andrew Selley, managing director of 3663’s logistics division, says: “The size and complexity of the KFC estate makes this a challenging contract but our team is more than equal to the task. We are delighted that KFC has chosen 3663 as its distribution partner and we can’t wait to start.”
The work has until now been carried out by ACR Logistics, which has supported KFC through a period of sustained growth over recent years. ACR, which has taken a strategic decision to focus on other areas of the business, has helped KFC throughout the tender process.
This is the second major success for the logistics division of 3663, which recently extended its contract with Compass until 2010.
Bibby Distribution operations director Peter O’Keefe has left the company to take up his role as president of the International Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (ICILT). In his capacity as president of ICILT, O’Keefe will visit destinations including India, China, Dubai and Pakistan to head council meetings and to share his vast knowledge and experience in the logistics industry.
UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon is using EnerSysMotive Power’s Hawker brand of batteries and chargers for the lift fleet at its new 20,000sq m national distribution centre (NDC) at Daventry. The Hawker system plays a key role in maintaining optimum truck uptime in the NDC’s busy 24/7 operations, serving Wetherspoon’s outlets nationwide. Hawker batteries are used on reach trucks, low-level order pickers and powered pallet transporters that operate in the centre, which includes ambient, chilled and frozen zones.
RedPrairie and enterprise printing solution specialist Printronix have formed a joint partnership to offer radio frequency identification (RFID) supply chain solutions to European companies. The combined offering integrates RedPrairie’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) along with the Printronix EPC-compatible printers to facilitate an end-to-end RFID solution.
BT has been awarded an extension to its contract with HM Customs and Excise (HMCE) to supply, operate and manage the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) service. Customs has exercised its option for the contract let in 2002 to be extended for a further three years. Under the extended contract, worth £28.7M, BT will operate the service until 2010. CHIEF links customs officers with 4,700 traders and freight forwarders who use the system directly, and supports all import and export traders around the UK.
