New owners of electrical chain hand supply chain operations over in five-year deal

New owners of electrical chain hand supply chain operations over in five-year deal

Electrical retailer Comet has appointed Norbert Dentressangle to manage its UK warehousing and distribution operations.

In what was reported to worth around £100 million over the next five years, the new deal will make Norbert Dentressangle responsible for managing all activities at Comet’s regional distribution centres (RDCs).

The RDCs in Skelmersdale and Harlow handle many essential supply chain operations, including receipt, putaway, store picking, despatch and returns management. The supplier will also bulk pick product for trans-shipment into Comet’s network of 12 home delivery platforms at both Harlow and Skelmersdale.

Simon Rigby, Comet supply chain director, stated: "We are very much looking forward to working with Norbert Dentressangle, who we recognise as a strong partner, being able to support us not only with our day-to-day operations, but also with their overall strategic thinking and planning processes."

Specialist fleet and distribution services

Using a dedicated fleet of around 50 tractors and 160, mainly double-decked trailers, thee supply chain firm will be responsible for all transport out of the two RDCs, along with two further outbases in Scotland and the South West, which serve Comet’s stores and home delivery platforms throughout the UK. In addition, it will also manage Comet’s existing collection service, managed by a centralised transport team in Northampton.

Across both warehousing and transport, the operation employs a core staff of more than 400 colleagues. 

Comet was acquired by OpCapita in February 2012 has more than 275,000 square-metres of selling space across 241 stores throughout the UK. Its online channel also offers the retailer’s complete range of home electricals for ‘click and collect’ or home delivery.