Slimming Down with Aisle-Masters

One of the UK's favourite slimming clubs, Slimming World, has significantly improved handling and storage procedures at its headquarters in Alfreton after taking delivery of two Aisle-Master articulated forklifts for the company's newly built warehouse facility. Slimming World has experienced phenomenal 40% year on year growth since 2008 and needed more storage space for the increased volume of marketing material it now produces.

“We used to have a lot of off site storage”, explains Facilities Manager Paul James. “But as we had land available we decided to relocate everything under one roof. This 1,400m² purpose built warehouse has consolidated our ordering systems, reduced distribution costs and lowered our carbon footprint.”

When it came to the choice of forklifts the company was won over by the Aisle-Master's versatility to work inside and out as well as its ability to save space. Paul comments. “Although we have ample pallet space at the moment we wanted to future proof our operations. The trucks' ability to work in very narrow aisles means that even if growth continues at this rate we are assured of plenty of room.” The current pallet count of 1,600 is 30% up on what could have been achieved with reach trucks.

Slimming World despatches more than 400,000 parcels each year to 3,000 franchised Consultants who run 8,000 groups across the British Aisles and Ireland. Materials range from display boards, leaflets and posters to recipe books, high fibre cereal bars and the best selling Slimming World magazine. The AC electric powered Aisle-Masters work outside for on and off loading (often problematic with reach trucks due to their tyres) and can then drive directly into the narrow aisles to deposit pallets in the racking, which has a top height of 7.5m.