Improved efficiency

An increasing number of companies in Central Europe, including the supermarket chain SPAR in Austria, are reported to be using CHEP's pallet and container pooling services, due to the improved efficiency and cost saving benefits that it generates for the whole supply chain.

Martin Gleiss, logistics director, SPAR Austria said: "Using CHEP pallet pooling services creates logistics efficiencies and removes the need for manufacturers, producers and retailers to be distracted from focusing on their core business activities. By using CHEP, our suppliers do not have to incur the capital expenditure associated with buying the equipment, not to mention the costs of return transportation, repairs and losses." Christophe Loiseau, senior vice president, sales and marketing, CHEP Europe commented: "CHEP is currently handling over 900,000 pallets movements for SPAR in Austria, which is a significant volume when you consider that the equipment pooling solution that CHEP provides is relatively new to the Austrian market. CHEP pallet pooling represents an alternative to the traditional white pallet exchange system, which provides limited standardisation with respect to size, specification, material type and quality, resulting in obvious shortcomings."