Tag Archives: supply chain

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Westcoast Retail applies online expertise to AO.com

LONDON, 2017-Oct-31 — /EPR Retail News/ —  UK based distributor and supply chain innovator, Westcoast Retail, revealed it has signed a UK-wide deal with online electricals retailer, AO.com to provide distribution and fulfilment services for  it’s growing computing range including products from brands such as; Apple and HP.

Brought on board after demonstrating outstanding results with both drop-ship and click and collect distribution models for other online retailers, Westcoast Retail is tasked with managing AO.com’s stock levels, delivering orders directly to customers and handling returns.

Westcoast Retail is not only responsible for holding stock, but also for forecasting sales and ordering products accordingly, directly from the vendors. The team’s thorough knowledge of the computing and consumer electronics sectors helps AO.com create an efficient and streamlined supply chain model fulfilling the needs of vendors and customers alike.

Simon Exton, AO.com’s Director of Consumer Electronics

“Entering the computing sector is an important step for AO.com as we continue on our mission to become the best electrical retailer in Europe.The fast-paced nature of this market means we required a partner that is agile and understands both the online retail and computing spheres. In Westcoast Retail, we feel that we have the perfect partner. The company is trusted by an impressive array of vendors and retailers and its distribution models and ability to accurately forecast sales is invaluable as we establish ourselves in the computing sector.”

Westcoast Retail Sales Director, Matt Pasco, commented:

“We are delighted to have been selected by AO.com. Entering a partnership with another giant in online retailing highlights the reputation that we have gained in this space and the partnership we have entered into plays in perfectly to both ours and AO.com’s strengths. Computing is an area of expertise for Westcoast Retail and we have demonstrated that our supply chain and distribution models are both robust and flexible across a range of leading vendors and retailers.”

About Westcoast

Westcoast Limited was founded in 1984 and is a leading IT distributor with a product portfolio spanning the whole computing spectrum ranging from desktop PC and notebook products through to software, high end server solutions, network products, printers, peripherals, spare parts and consumables.  The group sells to resellers, retailers and dealers in the UK and Ireland providing creative credit, marketing and logistics services to more than 5,000 customers.  More information on Westcoast can be found at www.westcoast.co.uk

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Kesko the first Finnish retail company to set science-based targets to reduce emissions operations and supply chain

Helsinki, 2017-Jun-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Kesko is the first Finnish retail company to set science-based targets to reduce emissions from facilities, transportation and the supply chain. To achieve these ambitious emission reduction targets, Kesko will increase its use of renewable energy while also improving its energy efficiency.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), WWF and the UN Global Compact. SBTi enables companies to state their commitment to the target of below 2 °C global warming as set by the Paris Climate Agreement.

Emission targets for 2025

Kesko commits to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions 18% by 2025, using a 2015 base year. As for scope 3 emissions, Kesko commits that 90% of its key suppliers will set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets by 2025.

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from transportation and Kesko’s own heat production. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity and the generation of district heat. Scope 3 emissions are other indirect emissions from the manufacture of products sold.

In the initiative, emission targets will be validated against the SBTi criteria, and a list of approved companies will be published on the SBTi website. Kesko is the first retail company in Finland whose emission targets have been formally approved by the initiative.

Science-based targets provide investors and other stakeholders with an excellent tool for comparing companies and their emission targets.

“Setting science-based targets supports the K Group in its commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In our responsibility programme, we have committed ourselves to the mitigation of climate change and the promotion of renewable energy production,” says Matti Kalervo, Kesko’s Vice President for Corporate Responsibility.

Cutting emissions through renewable energy and energy-saving solutions in-store

All electricity purchased by Kesko in Finland has been renewable since the beginning of 2017. Kesko purchases Nordic renewable electricity that participates in the Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) scheme.

There are 16 solar power plants on the rooftops of K Group stores, making the K Group the biggest producer and user of solar power in Finland.

The K Group participated in the commerce sector Energy Efficiency Agreement for 2008-2016, under which it committed itself to improving its annual energy efficiency by 65 GWh by the end of 2016. As a result of determined actions, the K Group has exceeded expectations and has improved its energy efficiency by 67 GWh.

The K Group is committed to the 2017-2025 action plan included in the commerce sector’s Energy Efficiency Agreement. In accordance with the agreement, the K Group has made a commitment to reduce its energy consumption through various savings measures by 7.5%, which amounts to approximately 79 GWh. The agreement covers all of the K Group’s store chains.

Kesko’s efforts to improve energy efficiency in its stores are focused on remote monitoring, LED lighting, lids and doors on refrigeration equipment, condensation heat recovery, and the use of carbon dioxide as the refrigerant.

Kesko Logistics aims to reduce emissions relative to the net sales index by 10% by 2020 from the 2011 level. Emissions will be reduced through optimised transport routes, efficient reverse logistics, two-tier trailers, and training in economical driving styles.

The range of electric and hybrid cars available through Kesko’s car dealers is increasing. The K Group offers its customers an extensive network of free electric vehicle charging points at various store sites.

http://sciencebasedtargets.org/
www.kesko.fi

Kesko and K-retailers form the K Group, whose sales total over €13 billion. The K Group is the third largest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs approximately 45,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the building and technical trade and the car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko’s net sales are €10 billion and it employs approximately 30,000 people. Kesko has some 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Kesko is a listed company and its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company’s domicile and main business premises are in Helsinki. Kesko is the world’s most responsible trading sector company (The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World).

Further information:

Matti Kalervo
Vice President
Corporate Responsibility
Kesko Corporation
matti.kalervo@kesko.fi
tel. +358 50 306 4081

Source: Kesko Corporation

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LVMH Supply Chain Director Alain Doudard on what exactly does supply chain mean

PARIS, France, 2015-3-4 — /EPR Retail News/ — Everything we do centers on our customers, and making sure that the products created by our Houses are available when and where they are needed is a fundamental priority. The LVMH Supply Chain plays a pivotal role in respecting this promise.  Alain Doudard, Supply Chain Director for LVMH, presents this essential Group function.

What exactly does supply chain mean?

It designates all the processes and resources that go into planning, managing and executing product flows at every step in the chain that links suppliers to end customers, including management of information and financial flows. This spans planning, purchasing, production, sales administration, customer service, logistics, managing returns, etc. In short, the supply chain figures at the very heart of our activities: all the products made by our Houses at some point pass through the hands of the people who work in this essential function. From procurement of raw materials to the sale of our products in stores, from planning to execution, everyone works with a single objective: satisfy our customers, wherever they are in the world.

In a Group with such a widely diverse range of businesses as LVMH, what are the key objectives and challenges for the Supply Chain?  

Regardless of the segment, the Supply Chain makes an essential contribution to value creation. In the universe of luxury we face specific challenges such as significant seasonal swings in demand or the capacity to handle large volumes of new products. There are also major time constraints with the pace of new collections, a global marketplace, valuable products whose security must be ensured during transport, optimized inventory management and other imperatives. Anticipation is essential to meet these organizational challenges.

In an increasingly volatile, uncertain and complex environment, the LVMH Supply Chain must show considerable agility to guarantee the excellence of our products. We must provide impeccable customer service while containing costs and risks and optimizing investments. Our teams constantly work closely with other departments at the different Houses: Marketing, Merchandising, Retail, Finance, etc.  They coordinate and orchestrate actions to achieve the objectives of our brands.

How does LVMH support the Supply Chain at the Group level?

In 2013 we created a Group Supply Chain committee to facilitate exchanges across the Supply Chain community. By looking at issues together and sharing expertise, LVMH deploys tremendous leverage to meet different challenges. For example, to optimize talent management we coordinate with Group HR teams and brand HR to document and develop our competencies. We’re also in the process of creating a Supply Chain Academy. What’s especially motivating in a Group like LVMH is that there is not one but multiple supply chains that have a vast variety of challenges to address. It’s obvious that we have more intelligence collectively than individually. We need to encourage this mindset to ensure that the LVMH Supply Chain continues to create value for each of our Houses.

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LVMH Supply Chain Director Alain Doudard on what exactly does supply chain mean

LVMH Supply Chain Director Alain Doudard on what exactly does supply chain mean