Using the internet to co-ordinate distribution in the food
sector more effectively could cut costs and reduce environmental
impact, a working party has been told
Delegates at the event run by The Food and Drink innovation
Network (iNet) heard that fifth-party logistics - a web-based
system based on co-ordination and collaboration - could be the way
forward for distribution.
Now they are considering joining a pilot study to look at
whether this system could help food and drink firms in the East
Midlands with one of their biggest headaches - how to get products
from A to B.
"The working party event was really useful to pinpoint the
issues in distribution that food and drink firms face, and to also
learn about the pattern logistics and transportation could take in
the future," said event organiser Emma Swinscoe.
The Logistics and Supply Chain event, held at The University of
Lincoln's Holbeach National Centre of Excellence for Food
Manufacturing, attracted delegates from food and drink producers,
as well as those working in distribution and transport.
Organised by The Food and Drink iNet, it aimed to brainstorm
issues, open up the debate and shape the topics for further
detailed investigation in subsequent working party meetings.
Speakers were Jeff Screeton, director of Aceona Management Ltd,
supply chain, logistics and distribution consultants, and Tim
Roberts, MD of Klinkhammer UK Ltd, a logistics, warehousing and
distribution solutions company.
Delegates heard about the different options available in
logistics, including fifth party logistics, which could be a more
effective and economical model.
Now the iNet working party is planning to meet again in July for
an educational session on logistics and to look into being part of
a pilot study into fifth party logistics.
Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and
Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink
Forum and including; the Food Processing Faraday Partnership,
Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the
University of Nottingham.
The aim of the iNet is to bring together partnerships of
regional businesses, universities, the public sector and innovative
individuals to drive the successful exploitation of new ideas.
Based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, it covers
Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire,
Northamptonshire and Rutland.
The Food and Drink innovation Network (iNet) is one of four
developed by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East
Midlands Innovation - the regional Science and Industry Council.
The aim of the iNet is to bring together partnerships of regional
businesses, universities, the public sector and innovative
individuals to drive the successful exploitation of new ideas.
Food and drink is the largest of the manufacturing sub-sectors
in the East Midlands. It accounts for 5% of the region's economy
and just over 3% of employment in the region.