Rolling out the SMART Barrel

With many successful projects creating efficiencies and cost savings in General Merchandise and Apparel supply chains, Allport are now rolling out their SMART supply chain methodology to the Beers, Wines and Spirits industry.

Rising costs and increased competition is encouraging many retailers to increase their focus on the supply chain, to drive efficiencies and create competitive advantage on the high street.

The modern retail supply chain presents retailers and distributors with new challenges and untapped opportunities, through increases in direct sourcing with overseas suppliers, to drive improved gross margin.

Working closely with some of the world's leading and most progressive retailers, Allport have developed a methodology - SMART - which provides visibility within a framework to drive out 'end-to-end' cost and improve 'net net' margin performance, for any international supply chain.

The core principle of SMART is that it takes into account the total distribution cost of products - through five key retail work streams - from product sourcing, through to shelf replenishment.

Clyde Buntrock of Allport Supply Chain Management says. "SMART provides the engagement with today's complex and multi faceted retail business model."

"SMART not only identifies the cost drivers in the supply chain and how they can be manipulated to enhance performance, it also provides a road map to show how these can be linked to retail based budget requirements and business expectation. It is as much about delivery and change management as it is about initiatives and ideas"

Clyde continues. "Allport was the first UK freight forwarder to recognise the importance of supply chain management back in 1992. Since then we have developed and refined our offering investing primarily in the calibre of our people and the capability and reach of our systems."

"We are very excited to have launched SMART into the BWS industry and we are already seeing significant benefits being brought to our clients."