Palmer & Harvey (P&H) is bidding to secure customer loyalty with a range of initiatives.

A new compliance and reward scheme, named SIRCLE, will see an independent auditor visit member stores every three weeks to monitor current promotions, identify on-shelf gaps and pre-sell future promotions.

Rewards are gained based on volumes ordered, purchase of recommended products, compliance to promotions and store standards. P&H says that retailers could earn up to £2,000 a year by following the programme, which replaces the company’s former PREP scheme.

In addition, the distributor is unifying its delivered wholesale and van sales services so that customers can achieve the same level of benefit whichever method of delivery they use. Customers will get a single statement and sales rep, and can earn rebates on their total spend whether it was spread across one service or two.

P&H managing director Martyn Ward said: “The majority of our van sales customers don’t have a delivery account, which means they are ordering from elsewhere. We want to be the easiest in the market for customers to do business with.”

All drivers will soon be equipped with a paperless delivery system (EPOD), designed to reduce errors at the point of delivery by allowing drivers to make real-time corrections to orders due to shortages or damages, including taking photographs to resolve disputes faster. Retailers will also be able to track the progress of their orders via their smartphone.

In addition, P&H has renewed its supply agreement with forecourt operator MRH for a further five years.