Norbert to manage UK distribution of Tetley tea

Norbert Dentressangle has received a three-year contract from Tata Global Beverages to manage the UK storage and distribution of Tetley teas.

The deal will see Norbert relocate the warehousing from the current Tetley facility at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, UK to its own Merlin warehousing facility in Manchester, which will be shared with existing occupant, Kellogg's.

Norbert's Manchester facility will also consolidate goods from Kimberly-Clark's northern distribution centre in nearby Chorley, Lancashire, before delivery to retail and wholesale customers throughout the UK.

As per the deal, the logistics provider will also be responsible for the linehaul of raw tea from Port of Tyne into Tata Global Beverages' Eaglescliffe manufacturing plant in Stockton-on Tees.

It will also operate around 14 truckloads per day - each carrying around four million teabags - to transport finished product from Eaglescliffe to Manchester.

Tata Global Beverages VP of operations for EMEA Steve Eastham said by making it possible for the company to collaborate with Kellogg's and Kimberly-Clark, Norbert's solution allows it to increase its delivery frequency and improve service to its customers.

"It also maximises utilisation of both warehouse space and transport, which will reduce road miles and fuel bills, helping to reduce the effect of increased costs both in the supply chain and elsewhere in the business, as well as supporting the sustainability agenda which is at the heart of Tata Group's strategy," Eastham said.

"The new arrangement is a great fit for both parties and we look forward to working in partnership with Norbert to realise these benefits over the next three years."

The logistics provider is also responsible for Tata Steel's finished goods transport operations, through its national 4PL platform.