DAVIES & ROBSON SUPPORTS GROWTH AT JD WETHERSPOON

Leading logistics consultancy, Davies & Robson has completed a review of JD Wetherspoon’s UK distribution infrastructure to support the company’s ambitious growth plans.

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) currently operates 800 pubs throughout the UK which are a mixture of Wetherspoon and Lloyds No. 1 brands and plans to open more than 200 new pubs by 2014.

The storage and distribution operation, managed by DHL Supply Chain, is currently centred on a 170,000 sq ft national distribution centre at Daventry, which stores and distributes ambient, chilled and frozen food, bottled beers, cleaning materials, uniforms and promotional materials. However, with the NDC already operating at capacity during peak periods, JDW requires additional capacity to accommodate its continued growth and meet the future needs of the business.

Davies & Robson evaluated a series of alternative infrastructure options in order to determine the optimum location, size and layout for additional warehousing, along with the optimum fleet location and mix. Using sophisticated modelling techniques to accurately assess the property, stock financing, warehousing and transport costs, Davies & Robson conducted a thorough evaluation of alternative solutions with regard to capital and operating costs, as well as operational resilience and flexibility.

The project concluded that JDW should retain a warehouse in Daventry supported by a second facility in the North West of England both on a relative risk and a relative cost basis and also provided detail of relevant timescales and size of distribution centre required.

Davies & Robson also supplied recommendations for optimising the layout of the Daventry facility to increase capacity in order to meet the short term needs of the business.

Graham Simpson, Distribution and Purchasing Manager for JD Wetherspoon said: “It was important to get an alternative view as we look at our options for growth over the next 5 to 10 years. Davies and Robson provided the due diligence needed for us to make an informed decision whilst considering a variety of options and strategies”.