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CompanyIndustry

We're UKWA Awards for Excellence Finalists!

We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Logistics Service Provider of the Year Award, at the 2024 UK Warehousing Association Awards for Excellence. First held in 1999, and organised by the UKWA - Britain’s leading trade organisation for the logistics sector - the awards celebrate excellence in the warehousing sector and highlight the achievements of the top-performing individuals and organisations across our industry. Shortlisted for the same award in 2023, but just missing out, we'll be hoping to return from London this year with the trophy in-hand. The Logistics Service Provider Award specifically recognises professionalism, great leadership and a demonstration of continual best practice, alongside a full commitment to meet and exceed the UKWA’s key principles of working safely, ethically, and profitably. Managing Director, David Brown Jnr commented: We're thrilled to be in the running for Logistics Service Provider of the Year for the second year in a row. To be recognised among the very best in our industry is a testament to our team's dedication to exceptional service, and our ability to constantly evolve to keep ahead of our competitors, and position us as a preferred supply chain partner for the outstanding customers we serve. Winners will be announced at the UKWA Annual Lunch & Awards, at the Royal Lancaster London, on Wednesday 10 July 2024. #TeamBrowns

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Company

Early May Bank Holiday

With the first of May's Bank Holiday weekends just around the corner, we've put together our schedule so you can plan ahead. Our office will be closed from Saturday through to Monday. If you have any questions before the break, please contact us. From all the team at Browns, we'd like to wish you a relaxing weekend. Date Office Earliest Delivery Friday 3 May Open Next day - Tues 7 May Economy - Weds 8/Thurs 9 May Saturday 4 May Closed Sunday 5 May Closed Monday 6 May Closed Tuesday 7 May Open Normal operation resumed

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Community

A charity event you’ll ‘Knot’ want to miss…

We’re excited to be joining businesses across Staffordshire in June, for Knot Events’ inaugural charity sports day! Held at Staffordshire University, we’re calling on fellow businesses in Stoke and Staffordshire to join us in in taking part in this inclusive traditional sports day, all in support of charity. No matter your age or ability, there’s an event for everyone. You’ll be doing something fun, and raising vital funds for 10 chosen charities across the county. Prepare for a day filled with classic sporting events, mental challenges, and some thrilling reinventions! What’s not to love? Event Details Friday 28th June 2024, 9:30am - 3:30pm Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2DF To find out more, and to book your team’s place, click here!

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IndustryInsight

Palletline and the 'Hub and Spoke' Revolution

The introduction of the 'Hub and Spoke' pallet distribution model in the early 90s ushered in a new era for palletised freight delivery in the UK, and fundamentally changed the way we transport goods. The model's concept revolves around centralising operations at a central hub and connecting various spokes to facilitate efficient and streamlined movement of goods to and from different locations. As one of the pioneering pallet networks in the country, our network partners Palletline , were among the first to introduce and popularise the Hub and Spoke model for pallet delivery. At its core, a pallet network consists of groups of professional hauliers, just like Browns. Together, they offer cost-effective delivery services, catering to businesses seeking to distribute goods across the UK and further afar. Browns joined the Palletline network way back in 1995! The hub and spoke model is as simple as it is clever. Hauliers collect pallets within their local areas (usually defined by postcode areas) and return them to their depot. From there, pallets destined for delivery outside their local area are consolidated and transported to the network's central hub. At the hub, pallets are sorted and redistributed onto delivery vehicles bound for their respective destinations, which will now be transported by the haulier responsible for the intended delivery area. Upon reaching the haulier's depot, pallets are ready for final delivery, ensuring seamless logistics operations from start to finish. This means that no matter where you send a pallet from, or to, Browns can use Palletline’s vast member network will get your goods to their destination, quickly, safely, and on schedule. As the most reliable network in the country, more than six thousand vehicles handle roughly 3.5 million pallets every single year – all of them with a total damage rate of just 0.01%. And, on top of this, Palletline operates with a multi-hub model, meaning broader geographical coverage, shorter transit times and greater flexibility when it comes to fluctuating demand and tackling peak periods. What benefits does the Hub and Spoke model bring? The hub and spoke model is renowned for its efficiency, making it a preferred choice for many distribution networks, us included. But what specific perks does it bring? Cost-effectiveness: Centralised hubs enable economies of scale in transportation and distribution, resulting in lower overall logistics costs like equipment and IT. Improved Service: The model allows for streamlined operations, leading to faster transit times and more reliable delivery schedules. Network Flexibility: Hubs can accommodate changes in volume and demand more effectively than point-to-point systems, offering greater adaptability to evolving business needs. Reduced Carbon Footprint: Consolidating shipments not reduces the number of vehicles on the road, but the number of miles they travel. Perfect for carbon-cutting. Palletline’s multi-hub model reduces annual mileage by 4.5 million! How Palletline Works: A Hub and Spoke Model Ready to see the hub and spoke model work for your business? Let's talk!

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Community

An eggs-traordinary response to our Easter mission. Thank you!

We had the pleasure of delivering hundreds of eggs to children and families across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire last week, as part of our first ever Easter egg appeal. We were proud to support 3 amazing charities; the Hubb Foundation , Alice Charity and the Gingerbread Centre , who dedicate themselves to supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged families in our local community. In total, we managed to collect over 250 eggs of all shapes and sizes along with hundreds of creme eggs, bunnies, bars and other chocolate goodies. Tom Armstrong, Marketing Executive said: "For our first charity appeal of this kind, we were overwhelmed by the response and generosity of our team and customers. There’s nothing quite like team spirit when uniting for a good cause, and we’re already looking forward to our next effort." A huge thank you to our friends at Churchill China (Helen Blackburn), Furlong Mills , Kaspa’s Desserts (Will Bowers) and the Trust Bruce Foundation for their generous support of our appeal. #TeamBrowns

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CompanyIndustry

UKWA to mark 80th Anniversary with visit to Distribution House

Browns Distribution is thrilled to be welcoming Clare Bottle, CEO of the UK Warehousing Association , to Distribution House in August, as the organisation commemorates its 80th anniversary with 80 site visits across the UK. The UK Warehousing Association is Britain's leading trade organisation for the warehousing industry, with Browns proudly being members since 2020. Around the Warehouses in 80 Visits is an ambitious quest to journey across the UK to highlight the essential role of warehouses in supply chains, the UK economy, and achieving net-zero goals. The campaign will raise public awareness, ensuring the sector is better appreciated by the government, media, and the public. Darren Simpson , Operations Director, said this: "We are delighted to welcome the UKWA team to our site, which we firmly believe sets a benchmark in our industry for efficiency, safety, and security. As we celebrate one year since the opening of Distribution House, we are thrilled to contribute to the ongoing efforts championing the warehousing industry, and the understated roles our fellow transport and warehousing operators play in keeping the country moving." As part of the visit, the Browns team will be fundraising for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice ‘Dougie Mac’, with the UKWA matching funds up to £80. Customers, local politicians and press representatives are invited to join us for the visit. Please email marketing@brownsgroup.co.uk for more information. #TheYearOfWarehousing #YOW2024

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Community

Browns' Easter Mission 2024

This Easter, we’re inviting our team, customers and local community to join us in an eggs-tra special mission to put smiles on children's (and grown-ups!) faces across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. We’re teaming up with 3 amazing charities to collect and distribute chocolate eggs to disadvantaged adults and children in our local area. We're hunting for eggs of all types, shapes, and sizes, and free-from varieties. If you'd like to support our appeal, please email marketing@brownsgroup.co.uk , or simply drop off your donation to Distribution House (main reception): Distribution House, Chemical Lane East, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4FB before Friday 22nd March. Thank you, from team Browns. Proudly Supporting

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Industry

Say hello to Photo on Delivery: Palletline launches latest service

Original article from Palletline Palletline, the UK’s leading palletised freight delivery network, has launched an exciting new initiative which will provide Palletline members and its customers with even greater transparency. The new Photo-On-Delivery service, will place Palletline ahead of the market and on an equal footing with the UK parcels sector offering another layer of protection to member customers. The feature has been launched in response to an increased number of requests from Palletline member customers. The new Photo-On-Delivery service is being offered alongside its existing digital signature capture scheme to offer total peace of mind. Palletline member delivery teams will be able to use their existing handheld devices to capture photos of successfully completed deliveries. Available on most transport management systems it will give drivers the option to take one photo, or multiple images in case of discrepancies. Graham Leitch, Group Managing Director of Palletline, said: We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Photo on Delivery scheme and is one of a number of exciting new developments we have planned for the forthcoming year. Not only is the new service a demonstration of our ongoing investment in innovation coupled with our commitment to continue to push the boundaries ensuring both Palletline and its members provide a best-in-class service. The benefits will be far reaching adding value to both our members and their customers as well as further reinforcing our market leading position. #ThePowerOfPartnership

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Company

Palletline eyes latest innovation with next-generation tracking facilities

Our network freight distribution partners, Palletline , have launched their next-generation scanning system, Palleteyes - revolutionising the industry’s freight tracking capabilities. Integrated into Palletline’s new forklift truck fleet, Palleteyes utilises the latest in CCTV technology, wide-aspect barcode scanners and event processing to deliver the most advanced levels of visibility and traceability in the palletised freight industry. The £2M investment forms the latest part of Palletline's commitment to continuously improve and enhance its services through the development and implementation of cutting-edge innovations. As shareholder members of Palletline since 1995, Browns leverages network resources such as shared technology platforms and best practices, to optimise efficiency, transit times and rates, focussing on what truly matters for our customers. Palleteyes is already delivering improved levels of quality control, at the point of unload and reload, eliminating inaccurate scans, improving safety and speeding up sortation processes across its hubs by more than 15%. The system activates within two metres of a pallet, scanning the barcode and displaying important delivery information including bay location for the forklift driver. Simultaneously, two HD CCTV cameras are activated which record a close-up and wide angle video of the pallet’s entire journey from unload to bay to reload, giving members full visibility of their freight via a cloud-based portal. The system also integrates with the forklift’s onboard systems to monitor driver performance and operational productivity, and weighs each load, sounding an automated alarm to prevent drivers from lifting a pallet weighing more than 400kg above a height of 1.2m – in-line with the latest double-deck trailer loading guidelines from the DVSA, HSE and other regulatory bodies. David Brown Jnr, Browns Managing Director, said: We were fortunate to run a BETA phase on the Palleteyes project, and were blown away at the quality, innovation and most importantly, the positive customer response. Palletline are continuing to innovate and provide unique improvements and value, giving Browns customers enhanced peace of mind and faith in the quality and reliability of our service. Introducing Palleteyes How it works Interested in learning more about our network freight offering? Click here!

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