Wincanton has signed a five-year contract with Wilko to manage its transport operations, ending a 29-year relationship between the retailer and Canute Group.

Wincanton will manage all UK transport operations for Wilko – at least 100,000
deliveries a year – from store replenishment to yard management and backhaul.

Wincanton’s fleet maintenance arm, Pullman Fleet Services, will run two workshops to service the Wilko fleet.

Wilko said Wincanton had “demonstrated a real understanding of our business, after a robust tender process” and it would meet its “current and future needs as we expand”.

Wincanton MD retail
and consumer Liam McElroy said: “Based on our experience and expertise in the retail sector, we will work in partnership with Wilko and look at every opportunity to strengthen the retailer’s supply chain, brand and customer experience.”

Canute Group group sales director David Emslie said: “As with all contracts of the size and complexity associated with the Wilko solution, staff dedicated to the contract would fall under the provisions provided under Tupe, and Canute was expecting to engage with Wincanton in the coming weeks.”

He said there were six months remaining on Canute’s contract with Wilko and the retailer can expect Canute to “act diligently to ensure our final days on the contract will reflect the same commitment and positive attitude we have demonstrated over the last 29 years”.

“Clearly we are disappointed that after 29 years Wilko has decided to change to a new service provider,” he said.

“Throughout the tender process we were confident
our continuing innovation
and emphasis on cost-efficient, service-focused solutions, would help us to secure a further five-year term.”

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