Company Profile - Import Services

First port of call

Delamode International Logistics, trading as Import Services, is delighted to announce the opening of a £23m extension to its distribution centre at Southampton container port.

The conjoined distribution centre has been designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability standards, in close collaboration with port owner ABP and construction partner Midas Construction.

Ground was first broken in January 2020. Over the past 18 months, through challenging times, this impressive new facility has been constructed within just 200 metres of the deep-sea container berths operated by DP World, at the epicentre of the thriving port of Southampton.

The port-centric location and close proximity to the berths ensure that the company’s operations can facilitate the tremendous growth in demand for scale and efficiency at this prime location, and can continue serving the largest deep-sea container ships trading between the Far East and UK.

Mike Thomas, client services director at Delamode International Logistics, commented: “Our new distribution hub is adjacent to the deepsea container berths, providing us with unrivalled access for stock intake, order processing and speed to market, direct to the point of demand.”

The new hub also doubles pallet storage capacity to a total of 65,000 slots, extending over half a million square feet.

Combined with the operational increase in capacity, this facility also provides open plan office space over three levels. The space includes wellbeing facilities for visiting truck drivers and group services accommodation to meet the synergy Xpediator is generating, creating the first of several planned centres of excellence. These are designed to deliver innovative logistics services via talented teams, enabling forward thinking clients to meet the new world of logistics head on.

The new port hub comprises: • An additional 200,000 square feet of space plus two-tier mezzanine floors • 33,000 additional pallet spaces, boosting total capacity in this location to 65,000 pallets • 24 dock-levelling container/trailer doors to manage simultaneous operations of both rapid container discharges and trailer loading • VNA racking with the latest technology, improving put-away and pallet retrieval cycles • A £2.5m roof mounted solar panel installation, now the largest in the UK; the panels also more than double the existing solar power generation of the port

The additional solar panels augment the existing array and reinforce Import Services’ commitment to environmental sustainability.

“Reducing the amount of carbon generated in supply chains has been front of mind in our planning,” Mike adds. “We know port-centric activities reduce supply chain emissions by up to 20%. Cutting empty container running miles inland, and using loading back-haul trailers with retailers, improves this position further. The portcentric model facilitated by this new distribution centre will allow us to take important steps forward in tackling time, cost and carbon - the three key components of supply chains - as we head into a new world of logistics.”

The compelling business model Import Services has pioneered particularly resonates with the toy and games industry. The fundamental understanding of retail logistics, combined with the addition of fast paced direct-to-consumer eCommerce, has resulted in an evolution of both technology and service offering. It’s not just overall capacity that needs to be addressed; Import Services is creating portals of dynamic information flow for its clients 24/7 via its cloud-based systems and is raising the game by investing in the latest

product handling equipment. The latter is being undertaken with a strong focus on training and providing opportunities for the company’s talented and knowledgeable teams.

The toy and game sector demands knowledge and bespoke services, from pre-retail preparation to Amazon integration. Import Services’ experience ensures clients receive the very best service, whether they are based in the US, Continental Europe or the UK.

The demand for bonded warehousing has increased with Continental Europe in mind; Brexit has impacted supply chains across many sectors. Three years ago, however, Import Services forged a very close partnership with a selected Dutch 3PL to plan the provision of shuttle services, ensuring supply chains would remain open from January 2021, when Brexit finally took effect. This plan enabled Import Services to store and process orders under bond in Southampton and convey picked orders to clear at its corresponding facility in Holland for onward EU- and Continental-wide delivery. The positioning of bonded warehousing, and AEO accreditation with subsequent cash flow benefits, has driven the success of this compelling proposition in the post-Brexit era.

Brexit is enabling Import Services to extend its reach to Xpediator’s other European services. The relationship with its Dutch partner is key to facilitating this exciting development. The company’s shuttles, which carry picked orders from UK based bonded sites, have been welcomed by clients as a great example of how Import Services finds practical solutions to complex situations, and reinforce its focus on client service.

Current and new clients are already announcing their interest in the new development. David Allmark, executive advisor to Just Play, says: “We have been in dialogue with Import Services for some time regarding its expansion plans at Southampton Container Port. To see this milestone development come to fruition is exciting and reinforces our decision to select Import Services as our logistics partner to underpin our ambitious growth plans.”

David continues: “What appeals to us, in addition to the port-centric hub and known retail logistics knowledge and experience, is the drive to cut carbon emissions along the supply chain, which for our target market is the green future we are all looking for.”

With all the excitement of the new hub opening, Import Services is also undergoing a name change - many people will be seeing the Delamode International Logistics logo for the first time.

Mike notes: “We have been part of Xpediator Group Plc for three years, but it’s now the right time to harmonise brands and take the opportunity to move forward together, under one banner, with this great new development.”

Robert Ross, CEO of Xpediator, added: “We share the same values and aspirations across the group, so it makes good business sense to adopt a single entity. This helps all our clients recognise us and lets them see the breadth of the services we offer.”