Following successful trials with a number of suppliers and logistics providers in the pioneering use of dollies, Tesco is planning to extend its phased rollout of these merchandising units to handle bulk volume ambient lines over the next few months. Last year, Tesco became the first major multiple to use the new Chep SC500 dollies which are wheeled platforms, half the size of a standard shelving unit, carrying 500kg loads. Designed to merchandise fast moving goods, such as carbonated drinks and canned items, the Chep dollies were launched with the promise that they would significantly increase the speed and ease at which high volume products reach the sales floor. It is a promise Tesco's programme manager Peter Worsey believes is being fulfilled: "Dollies have made quite a difference to the way we handle certain stock. Previously, high volume lines required a very high work content to ensure 100% availability on the shelves for our customers. "Now that products are delivered to the store in a ready to merchandise format, there is no need for manual unpacking and stacking. Customers are not inconvenienced either by temporary lack of stock or by the refilling of the shelves." Cross docking procedures have been developed for the dollies to ensure they flow through the system efficiently. Initially, Tesco is concentrating on the top 50 ambient lines, but it is also considering other products selected on size, rate of sale, packaging and ways of securing them to the dollies. MSAS McGregor Cory Logistics is one of the supply chain management companies working with Tesco and has introduced dollies at its Northampton centre. Site general manager Paul Smith says working practices have been changed to achieve the efficiencies offered by these units. "At the moment our assembly methods are manual, but our aim is to move to an automated process once the format has been agreed. "We've also developed new storage methods in the warehouse and converted a proportion of our trailer fleet to transport the dollies safely." {{FOCUS SPECIALS }}

Topics