Logistics Bulletin

Monday 17 June 2019

This week’s Logistics Bulletin reports on the race for grocery retailers to offer ultra-fast deliveries for their customers. In the UK, Waitrose has extended its two-hour delivery trial, now serving 98 postcodes, serving a potential 1.2 million households. The service is fulfilled through same-day couriers On-The-Dot. Also in the UK, Amazon and Morrisons are expanding the ‘Morrisons at Amazon’ store on Prime Now. Customers can order a full Morrisons shop online, which is then picked at a local Morrisons store, and delivered by Amazon. The option for delivery within one hour of the order being placed is available for many customers. In the US, Target is offering same-day delivery services, shopped by Shipt, directly through Target.com. Shoppers can now get 65,000 items delivered to their door in as soon as an hour with an order placed directly on Target.com.

Elsewhere this week, whilst Scania has launched NXT, a battery electric self-driving urban concept vehicle as its vision of the future for transport in cities, Volvo Trucks' electric, connected and autonomous vehicle Vera will form part of an integrated solution to transport goods from a logistics centre to a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden. The assignment is a result of a new collaboration between Volvo Trucks and the ferry and logistics company, DFDS.

Corporate and market news...

• Port of Hamburg moves more cargo by rail
• Polar Speed and Marken join forces in the UK
• Samskip fine-tunes multimodal network for post-Brexit hard choices
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and UTLC ERA extend cooperation on iron silk road

Service developments... 

• CEVA Logistics and CMA CGM launch a unique solution between Thailand and Laos
• FedEx achieves Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status in Japan
• Amazon and Morrisons to expand ultra-fast same day, online grocery home delivery service
• Waitrose extends two-hour delivery service outside of London
• Target makes same-day delivery easier

Outsourcing news...

• Morrisons awards logistics contract to Wincanton
• Deutsche Post extends partnership with the German Football Association
• Isawitfirst.com partners with CollectPlus
• L’Occitane en Provence moves into Bolloré Logistics’ new Cosmetics Hub
• Aldi extends logistics partnership with iForce
• Pattonair signs contract renewal and expansion with Rolls-Royce

Warehouse and distribution centre developments...

• Marken expands logistics operations in Philadelphia
• Lidl’s outlines London expansion plan
• Amazon to open first one-product UK logistics centre
• Kroger and Ocado break ground on America's first high-tech customer fulfilment centre
• The Green Group leases Trafford Park logistics centre
• Amazon invests in fifth logistics centre in Spain
• DHL Supply Chain expands US pharmaceutical and medical device distribution network
• Nippon Express to open new Shanghai warehouse
• ROHLIG SUUS Logistics expands operations in Poland

IT, fleet and environmental developments...

• Gebruder Weiss invests in gas-powered truck
• Scania takes urban transport to the NXT level
• Blockchain moves from hype to tangible benefits for supply chains
• DSV creates innovative Global IT Support Centre
• Volvo launches autonomous transport between a logistics centre and port
• Blakemore Logistics invests in hybrid refrigeration
• Watson Fuels orders 80 new vehicles
• Adoption of XPO Logistics carrier App now tops 22,000
• Roadrunner Intermodal Services invests in equipment
• Raben Group equips its drivers with Panasonic rugged handhelds
• IBM, KPMG, Merck and Walmart to collaborate on FDA programme
• Independent Express Cargo selects Avigilon AI technology

Personnel and HR developments...

• XPO releases details of employment agreement with Acting-CFO
• FM Logistic adds to its Executive Committee
• CFO resigns from Hapag-Lloyd
• XPO Logistics appoints Commercial Director of Transport in France

The Logistics Bulletin has provided global supply chain professionals with the latest insight, news and analysis for 16 years. To receive this highly valued service direct to your in-box, register here. Press releases and articles for inclusion can be sent by email to logisticsbulletin@analytiqa.com