The Publication For The Grocery Trade

NFT awarded new three year contract with J Sainsbury

NFT, the leading provider of time critical distribution services for the food retail and manufacturing sectors, has been awarded a new three-year contract to manage Sainsbury's national perishable primary logistics requirements. This is the first major contract renewal since management bought the company from Northern Foods in August last year. NFT was originally awarded the Sainsbury's primary contract in 2002, and the renewal sees them continuing to provide time critical primary distribution services for Sainsbury's, which involves cross-docking some 240 suppliers' goods, consolidating them and transporting circa 48,000 pallets and dollies of chilled products a week, to around 12 of the food retailer's national and regional distribution centres. The new contract closely follows a record daily volume of 20,000 pallets handled by NFT on behalf of Sainsbury's over the recent Christmas period. NFT, which is the food retailer's nominated haulier for chilled products, will be responsible for planning and coordinating all transport movements and will manage approximately 115 vehicles using its consignment tracking information technology. The logistics provider will also manage a range of subcontractors, including some of Sainsbury's secondary store fleet, as part of the primary distribution contract. J Sainsbury also recently appointed NFT to manage its South West primary consolidation centre, one of 10 stockholding facilities, which manage and consolidate the in-bound goods from smaller suppliers. Roger Burnley, Sainsbury's Supply Chain Director, said: "We are pleased to award NFT this new contract. Our focus over the last two years has been to ensure strong foundations for our Supply Chain to support the business turnaround. We are now building upon these foundations so that we can fully support our business as it continues to grow. The contract with NFT will ensure that our perishable primary logistics are managed in line with operating requirements." Said David Frankish, Chief Executive of NFT: "The extended contract represents a major achievement for our business, which has developed a strong relationship with Sainsbury's over the last two decades. We are delighted that we will now be able to extend our partnership and provide high quality and efficient logistics services to Sainsbury's to enable the company to thrive in what is regarded as one of the most competitive and demanding business environments in the UK." He added: "The contract win is also testimony to our expertise in providing fresh, stockless, on-demand and Just-in-Time logistics solutions, which enable Sainsbury's to offer their customers excellent availability of best quality chilled products." NFT Distribution Sue Davenport Tel: 07801 621182