hiya bucks in Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Marlow, Wycombe, Wooburn September 2017 | Page 41

Not only do we need to have enough raw
material of product to meet demands but also
packaging and transport space. If ships are
delayed due to poor weather or packing plants
break down, there can a gap in supply.
Once products are manufactured and have
arrived in the UK, they are delivered to our
regional distribution centres where huge
quantities of product are diverted to meet
individual store needs. Deliveries to stores
take place on a daily basis so they can hold the
minimum amount of stock, helping extend shelf
life and minimise the risk of food waste.
If quantities of product are in short
supply, each store gets a fair share of
what’s available.
Some items in the food supply chain
need to be picked, packed and delivered
incredibly quickly, like strawberries,
which start to deteriorate after picking.
Other items like bananas can be picked
unripe and ripened during their shipping
process. Once in store, products are
kept in date rotation and in the ideal
temperature range to keep them at their best
before purchasing takes place.
A huge amount of hard work, skill, knowledge
and technology goes into every item of food
you buy, so next time you are tucking into your
favourite meal, think about the journey on your
plate!
Dave Howe
Team Manager,
Customer Service
Amersham Waitrose
hiyabucks.com
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