Elaine Watson Booker is embarking on a major overhaul of its delivered wholesale operation in a bid to double its share of the delivered market to 12% by 2004/5. The aim is to consolidate delivered operations into a national network of 15 or 20 hybrid C&C/delivered depots, leaving the rest of the estate to focus purely on cash and carry customers, said MD Gerry Johnson. The first "delivery hub" opening in September at the Wolverhampton depot will feature a hi-tech picking facility, said Johnson. This will tie in with a new online ordering system for delivered customers also launching in September. The company is also developing a drop shipment service as part of a whole package of services designed to drive the Premier fascia, said Johnson. Trials will involve six manufacturers and 20 or 30 Premier retailers who will receive deliveries direct from suppliers. Payments will be handled through a central invoicing system. Johnson added: "I am confident we can drive Premier numbers from 700 to 2,000 in the next three years." A finance initiative will enable all transactions with Booker via the internet, phone, fax or cash and carry, to be consolidated into a single account. "This is part of a suite of complementary services for customers," said Johnson. "We are also doing a lot of work to help retailers develop more effective ranges." A major project to improve supply chain efficiency is also underway involving sharing data and joint forecasting with key suppliers, he said. {{NEWS }}

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