Wincanton takes on bigger role with Wickes in new contract extension

Home improvement retailer Wickes has awarded a new four-year contract to its supply chain partner Wincanton. The new contract expands Wincanton’s mandate for the retailer.

The two companies began working together in 2017, with Wincanton gradually expanding its services over time to cover the management of 50% of Wickes’ kitchen and bathroom transport operations. Now with the new deal in place, this will rise to 100% as Wincanton becomes the sole supply chain partner for Wickes’ kitchen and bathroom business in the UK.

As part of the contract, Wincanton has become responsible for the management of Wickes’ 400,000ft² kitchen and bathroom distribution centres in Northampton and have welcomed 342 Wickes employees who have been transferred across.

James Wroath, Wincanton’s Chief Executive, said: “Wincanton presented Wickes with a compelling proposition centred on continuous improvement to deliver significant savings and to support its business growth over the next four years and beyond.

“Our work will include new initiatives to improve customer experience, the implementation of innovation to drive efficiency across the supply chain, and improvements to increase the sustainability of our shared operations.

“We are proud of our long-term partnership with Wickes, and we look forward to continuing this great work over the next four years.”

This decision comes shortly after Wickes also extended the contract of CitySprint, which fulfils the retailer’s online orders by delivering stock from local Wickes stores to the homes of customers.

Wincanton, in partnership with Neal’s Yard Remedies, won the Best Use of Robotics Award at the Supply Chain Excellence Awards in 2022. Click here to see how you can get involved with this year’s Awards.

Source: logisticsmanager.com