1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144 
Suffolk 'food hub' scheme to reduce empty running
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
3y Chris Tindall.
A PILOT 'FOOD HUB' in Suffolk could revolutionise the way haulage firms deliver food to shops, restaurants and pubs.
Suffolk County Council (SCC) and private-public-sector partnership Choose Suffolk hope the consolidation centre (similar to the one below) for food items will reduce food miles, cut empty running, and help beat the recession.Also, it is hoped it will promote trade between suppliers.
SCC business development officer Yvonne Moores says the plans are at an early stage, but the pilot scheme should get funding in the next few weeks.
She adds:"It's the distribution that needs addressing. Food distribution is the main cost. Distributors want to work with us. They are running half-empty. What we believe is that the food industry is struggling so badly because of the recession.
"Local suppliers don't work together, but with a hub they can supply a single large contract. Hopefully, this will address a lot of barriers to growth."
Moores believes the huh could be serviced by a mix of operators, and not just one contractor.