Westler slashes ?dead stock' by taking control of warehousing

Westler Foods has significantly reduced supply chain problems it had been experiencing by replacing a third-party contractor based in Coventry and bringing warehousing back into its own Malton site in north Yorkshire.

The company, privately owned by the Breese family, has spent £250,000 upgrading its warehouse facilities, including new racking, trucks and installing a new warehouse management system. It has also teamed up with local haulier Ward Brothers to provide a more flexible logistical operation.

By doing so, it has eliminated the need to make several deliveries each day the 163 miles from Malton to Coventry. This arrangement had been adding to costs through the stock in transit. "It was dead stock," claims sales and marketing director Bill Griffiths. "It was taking 48h for that stock to become available and it was killing our quick response times."

Westler claims to be the UK's fourth largest canned goods producer, manufacturing branded canned, but also flexible pouched foods, for the wholesale, military and retail sectors.

The company has a turnover of £22m and is best known for its canned hot dogs. But it also owns the Chesswood and Tyne brands and makes boil-in-the bag meals for the military and other outdoor markets.