FDBusiness.com

Premier Foods, the UK’s largest food producer, has extended its existing contract with Jigsaw, the specialist provider of large-scale managed transport solutions, to include transport management and lead logistics provider services at its new Corby distribution centre. The expanded operation continues an existing eight year relationship between the two companies to cover a number of well-known Premier Foods brands. Sustainability was an important requirement and Jigsaw estimates that its central planning, network integration, link loading of compatible flows and other efficiencies will save around 3640 loads and up to 750,000 road miles during the next year.

 Premier Foods produces some of the UK’s best-loved brands. The new Corby distribution centre opened in 2012 as part of an ongoing business development programme. The location was chosen because it provided convenient access to the company’s production sites in the east of England and good links with the motorway network. It will distribute a number of Premier Foods brands to retail, wholesale and cash-and-carry customers throughout the UK.

 When it was planning the new operation Premier Foods wanted to ensure that the transport component was as efficient, flexible and sustainable as possible. It has worked with Jigsaw at its facility in Skelmersdale, Lancashire since 2004 and recognised that extending the contract to include the new site in Northamptonshire would offer a number of benefits and efficiencies.

 Jigsaw effectively operates as lead logistics provider for the fully integrated service with a single, centralised point of contact to manage all transport operations. A key component of the service is the integration of network transport operations with a seamless interface between Premier Foods, warehousing, customers, suppliers, hauliers and other stakeholders. This greatly simplifies transport and provides all stakeholders with a co-ordinated service.

 Careful transport management by Jigsaw ensures optimum use of vehicles to minimise journeys and reduce costs by maximising vehicle filling through focused load planning. The routing and vehicle capabilities of Jigsaw’s network partners are utilised to create a highly efficient national service delivered by companies with regional expertise. The service includes management of outbound deliveries, primary in-bound deliveries, and back-haul operations on behalf of major multiple retailers.

Additional efficiencies and synergies are achieved because primary movements are matched back to key regions with the core fleet operating between Corby and Skelmersdale. In this way Jigsaw has created a full service that is adaptable, scaleable and flexible to meet changing demands on a daily, seasonal or regional basis. Deliveries range from full loads to groupage consignments. Initial estimates made by the company suggest that during the first year these efficiencies will save 3640 loads and up to 750,000 road miles.

www.jigsawtransport.com