Norbert Dentressangle (ND) has won a three-year contract with Tata Global Beverages for the UK storage and distribution of Tetley teas, with its shared-user network cited as a major factor in clinching the deal.

The contract will see ND relocate the warehousing from the current Tetley warehouse at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to its own Merlin warehousing facility in Manchester, which will be shared with existing occupant, Kellogg’s. The facility will also consolidate goods from manufacturer Kimberly-Clark’s northern distribution centre in nearby Chorley, Lancashire, prior to delivery to retail and wholesale customers throughout the UK.

ND will also be responsible for the linehaul of raw tea from the Port of Tyne into Tata Global Beverages’ Eaglescliffe manufacturing plant in Stockton-on Tees and will operate around 14 truckloads per day – each carrying around four million teabags - to transport finished product from Eaglescliffe to Manchester.

Steve Eastham, VP of operations, EMEA, at Tata Global Beverages, says: "By making it possible for us to collaborate with Kellogg’s and Kimberly-Clark, it allows us to increase our delivery frequency and improve service to our customers."

He adds: "It also maximises utilisation of both warehouse space and transport, which will reduce road miles and fuel bills, helping to reduce the effect of increased costs both in the supply chain and elsewhere in the business."

ND is also responsible for Tata Steel’s finished goods transport operations, through its national 4PL platform.