Nisa is to transfer top-selling lines to its chilled depot in Harlow to cope with increased demand from its London members during the Olympics.

The buying group has 250 members within London’s North and South Circular, and 15 stores on the olympic Route Network, delivering 145,000 cases a week.

Nisa’s most popular lines, such as drinks and snacks, are usually stored at its central distribution centre in Scunthorpe, but will be moved to its smaller Harlow site for the duration of the Games.

“This will give our members more immediate access to products we predict there will be high demand for during the games,” said distribution director Jon Stowe.

It has also increased stock cover on snacking and drinks.

The move is just one of a number of measures Nisa has been working on with its logistics partner DHL for the past 18 months to make sure its members are fully prepared for the Olympics.

It will also switch to night-time deliveries for its London members during the Games, and will double-man vehicles so that deliveries can be completed as quickly as possible. Smaller multi-temperature vehicles will also be hired out for any emergency daytime deliveries.

The relaxation of nighttime delivery restrictions had really helped logistics planning, said Hugh Basham, transport strategy and policy director for DHL, as delivery vehicles accounted for 25% of traffic on central London roads.

“We hope this will demonstrate we can be good neighbours in terms of night deliveries,” he said. “The industry is making a huge effort to service London through the Games and there are some legacies we hope will come through it. Night deliveries are good for London’s public because they move congestion off London’s roads during the day.”

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