Spar UK and Oakland International have announced that the Spar UK National Consolidation Scheme, a partnership between the two companies, has been selected as a finalist in the Ian MacLaurin Award for Supply Chain Excellence Award, as part of the 2012 IGD food industry awards.

The Spar UK and Oakland collaboration is aimed at reducing Spar’s overall carbon footprint, improved freshness and availability of product in stores and reduced wastage.

The scheme involves collaboration throughout the supply chain, including Spar central office, RDCs, retailers and their suppliers as well as Oakland International, leading to a huge impact on carbon reduction, saving road miles by using an efficient and sustainable supply chain route.

Vinesh Patel, Spar UK supply chain controller, said: “Since we launched our consolidation scheme three years ago, we have been able to deliver exceptional results in areas including improving freshness, availability of product, reduction of waste and reduced numbers of vehicles arriving at depots.

“I am delighted that both companies are being recognised as a finalist for such a prestigious award,” he said.

Dean Attwell, Oakland International managing director, said: “Oakland International and Spar UK make a fantastic team, as both companies are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and in ongoing renewable innovations to make this an even more sustainable and efficient supply chain initiative.

“By working together, we have been able to provide an environmentally beneficial service for the end retailers as well as suppliers and in-store customers,” he said.

Tarun Patel, IGD’s director of supply chain and award judge said: “The finalists for this year’s Ian MacLaurin Award for Supply Chain Excellence have showed not only great vision, but also strong and successful execution in their supply chains. The changes they have made go above and beyond the requirements for day-to-day trading.

The Ian MacLaurin Award is given to a company that has had a real quantifiable impact on the supply chain, thanks to recent innovations in areas such as cost reduction, faster flow of product, application of technology or synchronisation of production.

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