JF Hillebrand wins Customer Care Award

Nov. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- JF Hillebrand, the leading logistics provider in the global wines and spirits industry, has won a prestigious Customer Care Award for its cutting edge supply chain management system and solutions.

The SCM service, which typically cuts lead times in half, significantly reduces inventory and improves on-shelf availability is benefiting major retailers, wholesalers and importers throughout Europe.

The Award was presented at the IFW Awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane yesterday evening (October 28, 2010). The IFW Awards, in their 14th year, are recognised as one of the leading accolades in the European freight and logistics industry.

According to the judges, “the winner used its Supply Chain Management system to benefit customers by cutting lead times by at least 50-60%. And in doing so they integrated both the supply side and customer service side of their business and integrated them into a remarkable intercontinental operation”. JF Hillebrand exhibited a clear evaluation process and really provided evidence in every criteria that was asked.

JF Hillebrand won over tough competition from CMA CGM, Framptons Transport Services, Hellmann UK, OOCL Logistics and SCF Group.

Rob Turvey, Managing Director of JF Hillebrand Supply Chain Management, said: “Our SCM solutions and system have already won numerous supply chain and logistics awards for the significant benefits it brings to our customers, and we are delighted that it has now also won this Customer Care award.”

JF Hillebrand’s award entry included a case study on its relationship with Albert Heijn, the number one supermarket chain in the Netherlands. “We reduced lead times from 8 - 12 weeks to 4 weeks and increased on-shelf availability to 99% whilst reducing inventory by 30% over the last year,” added Mr Turvey.

He said the two companies worked in close collaboration alongside all the supply chain stakeholders to set up the best possible system of collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment to ensure that benefits from greater variety of choice, better availability, shorter lead times, lower inventory and all at reduced costs, was delivered for all parties from the vineyards to the end customer.

“We know that our standards of customer care are second to none, but it is always gratifying to have this verified by independent industry experts,” said Mr Turvey. “We are regularly recognised for the sophistication of our supply chain solutions and systems and the benefits they bring, but this award helps demonstrate that we are also dedicated to the highest levels of customer care. We make sure that we understand what individual customers need and then we work with them to deliver that.”

Picture Caption: JF Hillebrand at IFW Awards - centre (from left) Rob Turvey, SCM Managing Director and Tom Yusef, Chairman from JF Hillebrand)

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About JF Hillebrand: With a global network headquartered in Mainz, Germany, JF Hillebrand employs 1500 people in 45 offices around the world. The company reported a throughput of over 268,000 containers in 2009 - equating to over 1.4 billion cases of wine.

Since 1844, it has dedicated itself to the efficient and cost-effective logistics of wines, spirits and beers. As well as offering first class logistics services, it also leads the way in the
development of innovative products, services and IT tools to the global beverage industry.

JF Hillebrand was voted “Best Logistics Company” in the 2010 Drinks Business Awards.

For further information please go to www.jfhillebrand.com

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