Unilever extends contract with CHEP throughout Europe

Under the new contract, Unilever has increased its use of CHEP’s service throughout Europe by approximately 70%, thereby replacing white-wood exchange pallets with CHEP’s managed pooling system.

The contract extension covers Unilever operations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Scandinavia and Romania, complementing existing CHEP services to Unilever throughout the rest of Europe. The business expansion was implemented in March 2013.

CHEP President for European Pallets operations, James McCarthy (pictured), said: "We have developed a close strategic relationship with Unilever for many years. Our new agreement enables us to build on the existing business, while applying cost and carbon reduction programmes. It reinforces our ability to deliver on such a large scale in response to the needs of one of our largest and most valued customers. It’s an excellent example of two global organisations working closely in partnership to mutual effect.”

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of food, home and personal care products with sales in more than 190 countries. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Knorr, Persil, Omo, Dove, Sunsilk, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Rexona, Sure, Wall’s, Lux, Rama, Ponds and Axe. 14 of which now generate an annual turnover of €1 billion or more.

Lucrecia Bolognesi, Unilever Procurement Director Logistics added: "Having built a partnership with CHEP over many years, we have been benefiting from their pooling model for some considerable time. Converting these extra flows to CHEP is going to simplify our ongoing pallet management processes, improve our supply chain efficiency and reduce our total cost of ownership.

"In addition, CHEP’s sustainability efforts will contribute to Unilever’s ambition to double the size of its business by 2020 while reducing its overall environmental footprint and increasing its positive social impact throughout the entire supply chain."