Keeping down costs and improving the efficiency of a supply chain are crucial elements to the ability of any retail business to survive the credit crunch, it has been claimed.
According to Ian Stansfield, distribution director at Asda, the crunch has made the supply chain even more important in keeping a competitive edge as well as driving down costs.
Mr Stansfield told delegates at the Humber International Logistics Convention that supply chain efficiency needed to be addressed.
His view was echoed by Duncan Kendal, head of supply operations at Argos, who revealed that shoppers wanted value for time.
Mr Kendal advised retailers to keep a good and efficient relationship with their supplier in order to meet customer demands.
Meanwhile, the convention also heard Professor David Grant from the Logistics Institute at Hull University and Professor John Fernie from Heriot-Watt University talk about research into shelf availability.
They revealed that supply chains should look to tackle consumer needs rather than adopting a process and supply approach.
