The implementation of Nisa- Today’s distribution contract with DHL has passed without a hitch, retailers have told C-Store. 

On April 2 DHL took control of Nisa’s ambient operation from Bibby, meaning it now handles delivery of the entire supply chain from the Scunthorpe depot. Nisa-Today’s said the full changeover would occur over several months, but DHL is “essentially now running the operation”. 

DHL has brought in a 100-strong fl eet of fuel-effi cient lorries, which are able to transport all three categories – chilled, frozen and ambient. The three-category service will be operational in the near future. 

Thom Morton, a Nisa retailer near Chester, said the changeover had been “quite amazing”. He said his staff, who were unaware of the changes, hadn’t even noticed, except for a few new wagons. 

Nisa retailer Kishor Patel in Bedfordshire was prepared for some kind of disruption “but I haven’t noticed any problems whatsoever – all the deliveries are at the same time as before. At some point there will be some re-routing so there may be some changes then.” 

Costcutter retailers also acknowledged to C-Store there had been minimal disruption to deliveries during the changeover period. 

The fleet of environmentally friendly lorries also meant that rising fuel costs could be absorbed, Nisa-Today’s distribution director John Stone said. He added: “Every penny increase in fuel prices costs us £160,000 a year.” 

Kishor said he had been guaranteed savings over time. “We should see savings in some form, whether through orders or promotions, for example.” 

Nisa will also be rolling out ambient stock from its Livingston, Midlothian, depot next month.