Meeting customers’ retail trading peaks demands careful planning.

Many Linfox customers experience seasonal trading peaks and we work closely with them to ensure efficient supply chain operations.

In Australia and New Zealand the main retail peak occurs in the Christmas – New Year period. Throughout Asia peak season coincides with Chinese New Year as well as festivals like Diwali in India and Ramadan in Indonesia.

Early start
Linfox Vice President Food and Liquor, Steve Warncken says that while many consumers leave their peak season shopping to the last moment in December, detailed planning begins with customers months ahead.

“Our customer needs the right stock on the shelves at the right time. Starting in September we develop an hourly plan for the summer peak. The plans are then refined on a weekly and daily basis as forecasts are reviewed,” Steve said.

Supplies on tap
BevChain’s National Account Manager, John Grant says that beer and wine volumes in Australia increase between 40 and 50 per cent in the November and December period. BevChain, the Linfox Lion Nathan joint venture supplies liquor stores around Australia with a number of leading beverage brands.

John said, “Christmas, New Year and Easter are all peak trading times and require early planning. Many retailers order on Monday following their weekend trade and require deliveries on Tuesday and Wednesday; so we have a mid-week peak as well as seasonal peaks.”

Asian taste
Country Manager for Indonesia, Frank Findlow says planning DC operations for Unilever in Jakarta begins months ahead of the Ramadan fasting month.
He said, “Volumes increase between 30 and 50 per cent at this time and we work closely with Unilever to plan our equipment, manpower and warehousing needs in order to meet market demand.”

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