Operational Excellence Award

Abbey believes its operations department is fundamental to the success of its business and customers. The company aims to consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that its products and services are delivered on time and to the required quality to satisfy customers.

Its entry illustrated the challenges associated with the distribution of bulk products and how its team of professionals navigated them, came up with ingenious solutions, created opportunities, and improved Abbey’s overall performance.

Abbey provides flexible, reliable services and peak volume capacity, identifies cost reduction and cost control, and is a highly resilient supply chain partner that manages adverse events and lets customers focus on production and sales while maintaining efficient and continuous improvement reporting.

“This is a slick and relevant company with an excellent compliance record,” said one of our judges. “Abbey delivered 98% on time and in full. It understands and excels in a complex sector and this reflects in customer satisfaction. It is also passionate about safety and compliance.”

DFDS Logistics takes pride in delivering a holistic logistics solution. This can only be achieved with operational excellence and in the past year it has again raised the bar through measurable objectives.

For example, it increased equipment by 15%, reported no prohibitions and maintained a green OCRS score.

DFDS is also a company that prioritises driver welfare. It seeks to continuously improve driver facilities and boost retention. It also successfully collaborates with customers and partners on innovation. With a fleet of over 200 vehicles and 400 trailers, it has maintained an excellent level of compliance, travelling more than 14.2 million miles. On-time delivery has consistently exceeded targets, while customer satisfaction has increased.

“DFDS presents a comprehensive story, well articulated with strong proof points,” one judge concluded. “A very solid submission; the company is doing all the right things and has demonstrated excellent fleet management. This is a focussed and dynamic business with exceptionally high standards.”

Based in the West Midlands, JPE Holdings is a family-based company that since 1994 has specialised in the delivery of virgin, recycled and blended aggregates. The company also owns three quarries and excavates, delivers and collects upwards of 1.25 million tonnes of aggregates every year for customers in the construction and highways industries.

Central to the business is its fleet of 35 rugged Volvo 8-wheelers, two Volvo Grab Wagons, seven Volvo FH artics and trailers, and a team that is committed to operational and technological excellence. Together, this drives the company’s impressive compliance scheme and safety records.

JPE is a member of the DVSA’s Earned Recognition Scheme (ER), with an overall weighted compliance score of 99.52% for both drivers and vehicles. The most recent driver’s tachograph infringement count is 99.64% compliant and JPE upholds third-party industry standards including FORS Gold, HS2 and TfL accreditation.

“JPE has an excellent record for compliance and safety,” said one of our judges. “This is an impressive story with excellent proof points and use of data.”

Privately owned and selffunded, Wren Kitchens designs, manufactures and delivers its products in-house. It owns its own supply chain from manufacture to delivery, ensuring ultimate control, consistency and maximised opportunities for improvement. Last year the retailer maintained a consistent, high level focus on compliance, operational efficiencies, reducing downtime and vehicle maintenance.

Its wider focus was about adding value, increasing customer satisfaction, expanding people/skills development opportunities and new/improved production facilities whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety and wellbeing and keeping environmental goals on track. This strategy aims to ensure that Wren is best placed to take advantage of growth opportunities once consumer confidence and economic stability returns.

Despite a tumultuous year for retail, Wren enjoyed a 13th consecutive year of sustainable growth. Kitchen deliveries were up 16.3% and the company delivered more than 2,500 kitchens each week with a consistent OTIF of 97%.

“Wren again performed strongly and is very good on compliance,” one judge said. “The company fully understands the value of operational excellence. The transport side is clearly focused on delivering continual improvement.”