Culina shortens Tesco's ambient supply chain

Culina Logistics has shortened ambient supply chains for supermarket giant Tesco, with the roll-out of a new 'Day 1 for Day 2' delivery service.

The logistics firm will consolidate suppliers’ deliveries at its multi-user facility in Wolverhampton, for onward trunking to Tesco’s NDC network on a six-day Monday to Saturday cycle.

Culina says the ambient grocery market has traditionally operated with orders being placed on Day 1 for delivery on Day 3 across a five-day Monday to Friday cycle, but has seen a growing demand from the sector to increase this service to ensure better on-shelf availability for shoppers.

Steve Winwood, group commercial director at Culina Logistics, says: “The lead time requirements of the ambient and chilled grocery markets are converging, but the profile and sensitivities of the products, together with the processes within many supplier and retailer distribution networks mean that the respective supply chains will remain largely independent.”

Gary Bentham, Tesco primary ambient manager, adds: “Culina embraced our desire to reduce ambient lead times and they have worked collaboratively with us to achieve a cost-neutral position for our suppliers for deliveries into the Tesco ambient network.”