The Perfect Fit

I don’t know about you, but I feel great when I put on a nicely fitted suit. The perfect fitting suit will often require alterations but if bought ‘off the rack’ it will still not be unique. Being able to walk down the street knowing that you are wearing something unique to you is a special feeling, and the only way to achieve this is through a tailored service.

If you have the requirement for something truly unique to you, designed to the highest of standards and guaranteed to last a lifetime then you need someone who will take the time to understand your exact requirements in order to produce something bespoke.

Do your research; find what you believe to be the right tailor for you without rushing in. Any ‘tailor’ worth their salt will get to know you first in order to understand your requirements. Are you looking for something specialist for a particular event, or do you require something robust, and dependable for everyday use? Once established its time to choose the fabric(s) and the colour(s). You may have your own ideas of what you would like, however a good tailor will offer suggestions as to what they feel will best suit your needs (no pun intended).

Customisation

Layers should also be considered when deciding on what you need from your suit. Two or three piece? Single or double breasted? These are just the start of the questions that need to be answered when creating the perfect garment. Others include the number of pockets, lining and how many buttons and in what colour. Then comes the fine detail. What will be the colour of thread that will hold your garment of choice together for years to come? These are not decisions to be taken lightly.

On to the numbers! From head to toe, your measurements will be taken and the findings written down in great detail. Not only to be used in the making of the garment but to be referenced to for future alterations. Your unique measurements are then transferred to paper templates and cut to shape. The templates are then laid as closely as possibly on to your chosen cloth before cutting.

After many man hours for the tailor and a few fittings later, your unique, perfectly fitted and oh so comfortable suit is ready for you to show off to the world. To the average person your suit may look like any other but to those in the know your suit is a one of a kind piece of art. Every stitch and button carefully chosen by you and created by the tailor.

If you are willing to put in the time to find a tailor that is highly experienced with an eye for detail and who takes great pride in their work, it could be the start of a very rewarding relationship.

The Right Choice

Picking a tailor is comparable to choosing the right 3PL for your business. The last thing you want to do is ‘buy off the rack’ and end up settling for an inferior service. You want to find a logistics provider that will work with you to understand your business requirements. Whether it is short-term storage or you have a longer term plan requiring a robust service that will stand the test of time. You want a logistics provider to understand all of your ‘measurements’ and be able to translate them into a tailored service that ‘suits’ your needs.

Of course ‘alterations’ will be needed as time passes. We all fluctuate around the holidays but you want a logistics provider that can anticipate this and be ready to accommodate. Communication is key, whether speaking to your tailor or your logistics provider. The more you communicate the more the relationship will mature. Before you know it you will be walking down the street feeling confident that you have something that is unique to your business that no one else has.

At Culina Group we see ourselves as ‘Master Tailors’ of the logistics industry. We take the same amount of care and time with new clients to understand what their requirements are before we even talk ‘cloth’. Our ‘fabric’ offerings are extensive and varied. They are sourced from eight businesses within Culina Group that are all leaders in their respective fields. Our ‘fabrics’ complement each other beautifully in any ratio or pattern. We can offer chilled, ambient, frozen, fresh, baked goods, co-packing, food manufacturing, bonded services, warehousing and distribution. No matter what you choose, your 3PL ‘suit’ will be held together by our strong Added Value services ‘thread’. Designed not to break and to stand up to the toughest of challenges. We want you as a client to be as comfortable as possible knowing that we have created the right fit for your business.

Get in touch today to see how we can create a logistics ‘outfit’ that ‘suits’ you so well it will make your competitors jealous.

– CLICK HERE to find out more about Culina Group

Co-Packing is the process that allows companies to sell their goods in all manner of packaging. For example have you ever wondered who packs the mini cereal boxes into multi-packs, or who puts the chocolate into selection boxes for Christmas or how did that bottle of serum get in my promotional hair straightener box? Co-Packing, that’s how!

A good Co-Packing operation really is the jewel in the crown for any 3PL worth their salt. You know what they say ‘if you pack it, they will come’… OK so I may have made that bit up but in a way it’s true. If you can pack it well businesses will come to you.

From food to pharmaceuticals, from car parts to beauty products, “Co-Packing” is more common than you might realise. IPS (part of the Culina Group) is the largest “Co-Packer” in the UK, working with some of the best-known food brands to provide innovative Co-Packing, Co-Filling and Co-Manufacturing solutions.

With over 30 years’ experience, a national network of Co-Packing facilities committed staff and a flexible approach to business, IPS continues to lead the market.

Contact us – and add real value to your supply chain!

KEY – ‘Rough’ process of raw product process

1. A raw product (in this case sweets)is produced by manufacturer

2. It is collected by a 3rd party haulier

3. Product arrives at an IPS location

4. The sweets are unloaded

5. Sorted in to correct weights

6. Added to packaging

7. Packaging is sealed

8. Best before and other production information is added

9. Product is boxed

10. Boxes sealed

11. Boxes palletised and wrapped for transport

12. Pallets loaded on to 3rd party truck

13. Product transported to retailers central hub

14. Product is stored and divided into store allocation

15. Selected quantity is despatched

16. Product is delivered to chosen store and displayed

17. Product is purchased by consumer and enjoyed

The acquisition is a logical next step for both businesses and it made strong commercial sense for Culina Group to bring Robsons (of Spalding) into the family.

This acquisition is another significant and exciting milestone in the development of the Culina Group of Companies.

The Best Service Award celebrates the supplier who has either delivered a consistently high level of service or who have shown proactivity to overcome significant obstacles.

“We are absolutely delighted to receive the Best Service Award this year. This is truely a reflection of the continued open, inclusive and receptive relationship between IPS and our Nestle colleagues. The capability, loyalty and commitment of our people is what makes IPS the market leader” said Andrew Dawson – IPS Managing Director.

The prestigious Nestle Awards recognise the best of the best of more than three hundred “Nestle UK” direct suppliers who supply into the 12 UK Nestle manufacturing sites.

The event held on Monday 14th November at the London Hilton on Park Lane was attended by some of the biggest names in the UK logistics and transport sector.

Since opening in April 2016, the Port Salford site has acted as a central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands arriving by short sea freight from Europe. The company is responsible for a range of market-leading brands including Old El Paso, Green Giant, Betty Crocker and Nature Valley.

80% of its volume is now transported via the Manchester Ship Canal and General Mills expects to save 600,000 road haulage miles each year whilst providing a “future proof” solution to market trends.

This latest award follows on from last month’s success, when General Mills UK and Culina won the Warehouse Operations Award at the CILT (Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport) Annual Awards for Excellence.

General Mills is currently the anchor client of food and drink logistics giant Culina Group, which took occupation of a 280,000 sq ft (26,000 sq m) unit at Port Salford. Port Salford is being developed by the Peel Ports’ sister company Peel Land and Property.

David Huck, Port Director at Peel Ports, said: “Since we welcomed Culina Group and General Mills to Port Salford their commitment to seeing the multimodal warehousing project succeed has been unwavering. Their presence as market leaders has acted as a catalyst to attract more logistics providers and their clients to the area. Port Salford offers significant advantages to companies exporting to the UK, especially those with goods arriving at the Port of Liverpool. An integrated supply chain, close to their end destinations, will help them ship their cargo quicker and more directly to customers in the commercial heartland of the UK.”

Steve Winwood, CEO of Culina Logistics, a division of Culina Group added: “The Supply Chain Excellence Awards are always a great occasion and we’re very proud to have been recognised for our part in this venture. We’re looking at the long term with this cutting-edge facility. Port Salford really is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the UK and it is an exciting time for our whole team.”

General Mills UK Supply Chain Director, Dave Howorth said: “Our distribution agreement with Culina reinforces our commitment as a company that is focussed on finding solutions that are best for customers, consumers and the environment. We’re honoured to have received this award and thank the judges for selecting the Port Salford partnership.”

Port Salford offers water connectivity provided by the Manchester Ship Canal via Liverpool, is within 2 miles of both the M60 and M62 motorways and offers rail connectivity to the West Coast Mainline via the Chat Moss, thereby avoiding Manchester Piccadilly.

Port Salford is a £138m investment to create 148,000 sq m of warehousing and 280 jobs, and an integral part of the Atlantic Gateway project being led by Peel Ports. The project involves the redevelopment of the port and canal network and surrounding land between Manchester and Liverpool.

The event, which took place at Resorts World Birmingham, celebrated excellence in the logistics industry across eleven main categories. Culina Group won the new facility award for their visionary collaboration with General Mills at Port Salford, the UK’s first Tri-modal logistics facility. The Port Salford depot went live earlier in 2016.

“Port Salford is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the UK and it’s our great people who are making it a success. These are really exciting times for all of us at Culina Group and this award reinforces all of the hard work that continues to make Port Salford a success” said Thomas van Mourik, Culina Group CEO.

Peter MacLeod, editor of SHD Logistics, said: “The mood of the evening was celebratory and upbeat, and it was heartening to see the obvious delight and pride shown by the winners. I congratulate Culina Group and General Mills – both very deserving winners.”

Great Bear Distribution who joined the Culina Group last month through acquisition will be managing warehousing and distribution of a range of ambient brands from the showpiece 280,000sq ft. facility.

Great Bear is now the ambient division of Culina Group. The new Port Salford facility will be fully branded as Great Bear and offers 45,000 pallet spaces, 30 loading doors, 30,000 sq. ft. of contract packing and 130 trailer parking spaces whilst also creating 280 jobs in the area.

“Port Salford is a truly cutting edge facility, and one that Culina Group and Great Bear are really proud to be initiating”, said Thomas Van Mourik, Culina CEO.

“This development is not just changing the dynamics of UK Transport and Logistics by dramatically improving direct supply chain routes across England and Scotland, but it’s also resulting in significant carbon emission reductions and environmental savings,”

“Port Salford is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the UK and it’s our great people who are going the make it a success. These are really exciting times for all of us”.

From the outset General Mills (UK/Ireland) is in situ as a Culina Group / Great Bear client. Its brands such as, Old El Paso, Green Giant, Betty Crocker, and Nature Valley, will be arriving by short sea freight from Europe, saving a significant amount of road haulage miles per year whilst at the same time providing a “future proof” solution to market trends.

Port Salford is a massive investment by Peel Ports Group, which will create 1,600,000 sq. ft. of warehousing. Its unique location will allow direct vessel access from the new Liverpool2 Terminal at the Port of Liverpool, due to open later this year.

This is all part of the bigger global plan by Peel Ports to develop Liverpool as a deep water container terminal and a key Atlantic Gateway.

This move by Culina ensures that clients have the guarantee that their product temperature will be maintained in the event of a power outage.

“This is a significant contingency investment by Culina to ensure that we are not compromised whilst client products are in our care”, said David Lowe, Culina Commercial Director.

“We want to be completely confident that in the event of a power failure our client’s products are protected. Especially when considering the ever growing strain on the UK power network. We at Culina are proud of the market leading service that we provide to our clients and its investments such as this that really differentiates us as a business”

The Himoinsa HTW-1390 T5 “heavy range” diesel generator container is powered by Mitsubishi and will be based initially at Culina Market Drayton.
Culina Group currently has 17 strategically located sites across the UK and Ireland, providing 3 million sq. ft. of warehousing space, while it also operates a fleet of 350 trucks and 650 trailers.

Culina employs over 3,000 people and has an enviable client list containing nearly 200 brands and manufacturers, many of which are household names.

Culina work closely with Greenhous DAF in the selection, provision and maintenance of their DAF fleet. This is a long term partnership underlying the importance of close communication and an understanding of the requirements of the logistics company by the Greenhous DAF sales staff.
Culina offer logistical solutions to food and drink manufacturers, bridging the gap between the producer and the final destination, which is usually the major supermarket chains. Using a fleet of 350 vehicles, Culina collect food and drink products from the source of production, bringing into storage if necessary, before its scheduled release to the retailer.

The company is usually involved in the transportation and storage of large volumes of food and drink products, but the growth of some of their smaller clients has been significant in recent years. Assisting start-up brands and niche manufacturers with their logistics requirements helps them on their journey to becoming the food and drink industry leaders of the future.

A major strength of Culina has always been their ability to work within both the chilled and ambient temperature ranges, both from a storage and delivery point of view. Greenhous DAF have supplied trucks and trailers to suit the needs of the company with bespoke refrigerated trucks among the Culina DAF fleet.
Mark Matkin, Group Fleet Manager for Culina, explains the diversity of their operations saying: “We are a market leader in the distribution of the world’s best known food and drink products throughout the UK and Ireland, but we also offer contract packaging services to our clients. We are always looking to expand as a group and take on new businesses to diversify the range of services that we can offer.”

“We also have bonded warehousing facilities where high value products including wines and spirits and dutiable products are stored securely. We offer a very high quality of service to our customers.”

Returning to the vehicles Culina operate, among their 350 vehicles (and 650 trailers) there are smaller vans for access into more challenging environments in cities like London. However, the larger trucks are the major work horses and the company has just taken charge of twenty DAF XF510 6×2 Tractor Units from Greenhous DAF. Colin Moore, Truck Sales Executive at Greenhous DAF in Shrewsbury, says of the latest consignment of trucks: “I have worked with Culina for the past 9 years and with Mark Matkin, the Culina fleet manager for the last 3 years. We have built a good relationship where we can get to grips with the detailed needs of the company. The new XF’s are highly rated in the industry and offer the drivers excellent driving conditions and cab comfort for long distance journeys.

“We have also recently supplied Culina with nine DAF CF330 26 Tonne Ambient Rigid, two DAF CF330 26 Tonne Chill Rigid, one DAF LF180 18 Tonne Ambient Rigid and two DAF LF180 16 Tonne Ambient Rigid trucks. Offering a two year maintenance and repair contract to Culina ensures they have an immediate service response 24 hours a day, keeping their trucks operating.”

The scale of the Culina operation is impressive with around 3,000 staff and a £230 million turnover, 2.9 million sq. ft. of warehousing including 8 chilled, 8 ambient and 4 co-packing centres across the UK. They have around 170 clients resulting in an annual production of 2.2 million orders delivered to 4,500 locations.

With such a large logistical operation ensuring the environmental impact of the company is strictly controlled is especially important and it influences the decisions made on new delivery vehicles. As Mark describes: “There is a heavy emphasis on the environment and how to reduce our impact on it. We have invested heavily in efficient trucks and the means to monitor how our vehicles are driven. The DAF trucks are good examples of where we can track their use, including driver behaviour, CO2 emissions, plan more efficient routes and look to reduce fuel use.

Working with Greenhous DAF we can monitor our fleet use and feedback our findings to Greenhous and DAF which in turn enables them to evaluate their technological advances.”

To find out more about the services both Culina and Greenhous DAF offer visit their websites at www.culina.co.uk and www.greeenhous.co.uk.

The move sees IPS carry out a series of services, including flow wrapping, shrink wrapping, cartoning and the creation of display units, complementing other packaging solutions already provided to Nestle by IPS via its York and Featherstone sites.

You can read more about this innovative development on The Grocer’s website.