Bidfood Achieves Significant Supply Chain Improvements with Slimstock
Bidfood, a leading foodservice provider in the UK, has successfully transformed its supply chain operations with the help of Slimstock’s advanced planning platform, resulting in substantial financial and service enhancements. The company has announced a remarkable reduction of £6 million in stock value, alongside a 60% decrease in stock write-offs, which has significantly minimized waste.
With a complex operational model that includes 31 depots, over 250,000 active SKUs, and a customer base of 40,000, Bidfood faced the challenge of ensuring exceptional service and product availability. To address these challenges, the foodservice leader turned to Slimstock, a company recognised for its expertise in supply chain optimisation. Following this collaboration, Slimstock was awarded the title of “New Supplier of the Year” by Bidfood.
Bidfood’s Director of Supply Chain, Louise Lyle, expressed the importance of flexibility in their operations, stating, “To service the needs of our unique mix of customers, we need a huge amount of flexibility. However, we do not have elastic walls. Therefore, optimising our resources is a continuous challenge.” She highlighted that digital transformation through Slimstock has provided the agility necessary to stay ahead of evolving customer demands and new menu items.
The implementation of Slimstock’s platform has allowed Bidfood to consolidate its supply chain information, bringing visibility to stock levels and performance metrics. This integration has empowered the supply chain planning team, which consists of 55 members, to make data-driven decisions and enhance overall service levels.
Since adopting the platform, Bidfood has made notable strides in various areas. The reduction in stock value, from £115 million to £109 million, coupled with improved service levels, has contributed to the company’s financial stability. Additionally, the substantial decrease in stock write-offs has positively impacted working capital, alleviating cash flow issues and strengthening the bottom line.
Louise elaborated on the need for robust insights, stating, “In meeting our supply chain goals, we need robust insights to accurately plan and resource goods volumes in relation to seasonal activity, product launches, and new customer mobilisations.” She praised Slimstock for not only meeting these needs but also for providing a future-proof platform that allows Bidfood to scale its operations and exceed customer expectations.
The integration of Slimstock’s platform has fostered greater collaboration across Bidfood’s departments. Louise noted that insights from Slimstock enable alignment with the commercial team, allowing for better market intelligence and promotion performance evaluation. “Having seen how quickly the platform has delivered ROI, I only wish we had invested in it years ago, and would recommend it to anyone looking to elevate their supply chain planning capabilities,” she added.
This transformation marks a significant milestone for Bidfood as it continues to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the foodservice industry, ensuring a sustainable and efficient supply chain capable of meeting the demands of its diverse customer base.
