Holland & Barrett ensures healthy supply chain

Health and wellness products retailer Holland & Barrett is streamlining its supply chain with new routing and scheduling software

The Paragon solution will enable the retailer to restructure its store replenishment operation which supplies over 900 locations across the UK from its warehousing and international distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent.

Jason Thompson, transport operations manager at Holland & Barrett, said: “Paragon’s routing and scheduling software solution will enable us to transform store replenishment, removing the need to keep high levels of inventory in store by delivering direct to shelf. It will also enable us to gain better understanding of where we can use third-party logistics partners in outlying areas through strategic modelling.”

Until now, Holland & Barrett has operated fixed daily routes with each store receiving a single weekly delivery. 

However, it took the decision to reduce inventory in the stores as much as possible, which would require increasing store deliveries from one to three times per week. 

Dynamic planning

With such an extensive range of more than 9,000 different products, this is critical to removing waste and inefficiency from the supply chain. 

The introduction of dynamic planning will ensure the health and wellness retailer can reduce in-store inventory and improve on shelf availability, while at the same time confidently delivering on the promise of its click and collect offering.

The Paragon routing and scheduling software will also help Holland & Barrett identify and achieve transport cost savings by reducing dead mileage, enhancing reverse logistics and delivering maximum productivity levels. 

As most of the stores are located on the high street, the planning solution will also help its transport planning team to far more efficiently factor in complex delivery variables such as daytime access restrictions and the impact of urban congestion.