Supermarket chain Marks & Spencer has implemented an improvement process to its
supply chain strategy by moving stock direct to four hubs in Asia, reports Logistics Manager.
The move, which utilises sites in Istanbul, Sri Lanka, Singapore and China, is part of the group's plans to become an international retailer.
Closer to home, it has stated that construction has commenced on its new distribution hub and e-commerce centre in the East Midlands and expects the project to be completed at some stage in 2013.
It has also recently implemented a new stock management programme.
M&S reported a 2.4 per cent increase in sales figures for the first six months of 2011. Total sales figures for the period stands at £4.7 billion, but their total operating profit has still fallen to £369 million – a decrease of 9.8 per cent.
Marc Bollan, the group's chief executive, said: “Against a challenging consumer backdrop, we took decisive action to manage the business through the short term while continuing our focus on investing in creating a stronger platform for future growth.”
The supermarket's Plan A strategy, which was set up to make it more environmentally friendly, reaped a saving of £2 million in fuel costs and £11 million in packaging in 2010.
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