Whistl has launched a £12 million investment fleet expansion and renewal programme that will see it update its fleet over the next twelve months. The investment includes Euro VI compliant: I7 Peugeot Boxer 435 Vans; 26 18t and 17 26t ridged trucks; and 126 Renault T-Range Tractor Units. It will (more…)
Deliveroo has signed a deal with GMB Union which will cover the company’s 90,000 riders and recognises that they are self-employed. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement will see GMB have rights to collective bargaining on pay and consultation rights on benefits and other issues, including riders’ health, safety and wellbeing. The (more…)
Zara is introducing a fee for returns for online orders placed from the 3 May onwards and returned via a third-party drop-off point. The returns fee of £1.95 is deducted from the customer’s total refunded amount. Goods bought online but returned to stores however will remain free to return providing (more…)
Royal Mail has announced plans to create more than 50 new postal drone routes over the next three years, subject to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval. The uncrewed drones, or UAVs (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles) are part of a partnership with logistics drone company Windracers. Island communities across the Isles of (more…)
Parcel locker network group InPost has reported volumes up in its key markets of UK, Poland and France. Total Q1 volumes grey by 68% YoY and 18% on a like-for-like markets basis (excluding Mondial Relay), off a challenging Q1 2021 base impacted by Covid-19, and outperforming expectations in many markets. (more…)
Simply hearing about a negative delivery experience could make 70% of UK consumers less likely to shop with a retailer, according to new research from Metapack. Across the UK, France and Germany over two-thirds of consumers are less inclined to shop with a retailer after hearing of a negative delivery (more…)
Co-op is aiming to cut queues and improve the convenience of its click and collect with the trial of a dedicated external service hatch to enable customers to grab their shopping and go. The service has launched in the company’s Lewes Road, Brighton store which is one of its busiest (more…)
Ikea owner Ingka Group is to spend 3 billion euros during 2023 on new and existing stores which will include the modification of existing out-of-town stores to allow them to operate as ecommerce distribution centres. Much of the investment will include automation of the out-of-town stores’ existing warehouse sections. Speaking (more…)
One Stop has become the latest retailer to agree a partnership with Uber Eats. The new agreement will see more than 500 One Stop stores available on the Uber Eats app by the end of the year, offering household staples such as confectionery, fresh food and alcohol. More than 100 (more…)
DPD has expanded its green fleet after agreeing a deal with Ford for 1,000 E-Transit vans. It will take DPD’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet to over 2,500 in total. The 3.5t, 135kwh, long-wheelbase vans have 12.4 cubic metres of load space and will operate from depots across the UK network (more…)
Asda warehouse workers and drivers have voted in favour of strike action in protest at a proposed pay deal from the firm which would see staff lose an element of sick pay. GMB balloted their 8,000 GMB members working in driver, warehouse and clerical roles and found that 95% of (more…)
Boohoo is to focus this year on optimising its operations, with increasing flexibility in its supply chain and strategic initiatives around warehousing. Summarising its full-year 2022 results this week, the company said that although revenues were up 14% versus last year growth had been impacted by returns rates increasing significantly (more…)
Tesco has introduced HGV trailers with refrigeration units powered by solar panels rather than using traditional diesel engine technology. The first 13.6 metre refrigerated trailer based at Tesco’s Peterborough distribution centre is already in operation, delivering stock to stores across the East of England, with three more destined for Peterborough (more…)
The first quarter of 2022 has seen a record number of cost and supply chain profit warnings as companies face ‘crisis as normal’, with the retail sector topping the number of warnings. The number of profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies in the first quarter of 2022 increased 44% year-on-year, (more…)
Uber Eats is partnering with Tesco to help expand the reach of the grocery giant’s Whoosh fast grocery delivery service. The retailer launched Whoosh, which allows deliveries of groceries in 60 minutes, in May 2021. The service is now available in 200 of its Express stores with plans to expand (more…)
The number of transport and logistics companies failing in the first quarter of 2022 is 75% more than the last year, according to the ONS. It says that 15,005 freight transport businesses failed in the first quarter of 2022 (January to March), compared to 8,590 in the same period last (more…)
Phase has partnered with supply chain transparency platform Segura to strengthen its commitment to ethical trade. Segura’s solution will enable Phase Eight to modernise and improve the quality of its supply chain management, supporting its aim to embed full transparency throughout all tiers in its supply chain. As part of (more…)
Sainsbury’s is looking at how it can improve its range and efficiency of delivery services for Groceries Online customers. Initiatives already include one-hour saver slots and changes to its delivery pass model, the company said in its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 5 March 2022 this week. Groceries (more…)
Evri (formerly Hermes UK) is trialling Green D+ HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a 100% renewable diesel replacement derived from waste and residue oils. It will be used for the local HGV fleet at its Brooklands site instead of traditional diesel. Green D+ HVO can be used in standard diesel vehicles (more…)
Asda is trialling doorstep parcel returns, allowing customers in nearly 50 locations to return parcels from George.com as well as more than 100 UK retailers, when they receive their regular grocery delivery. In the trial, which begins this month, customers simply hand back any unwanted items they may have to (more…)