Inter Forward cuts jobs
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• Swedish firm Inter Forward is reorganising its three UK distribution companies, with a planned loss of 200 jobs and closure of six depots out of 25.
Inter Forward acquired London Carriers International, Bondelivery and BVS during the summer of 1990. It has decided that some depots and administrative functions can be shared by the three operations to increase efficiency. Gustaf Stolpe, Inter Forward managing director, will take direct control of the group's warehousing and distribution. LCI's managing director Joe Poole has agreed to take early retirement, but will stay until the restructuring is complete.
The job cuts are being negotiated with the Transport and General Workers' Union and the total of 200 is likely to include up to 50 drivers, according to an Inter Forward spokesman.
Five out of the six depots closing are run by Bondelivery at Haydock, Nottingham, Spennymoor, Linwood and Aldershot. LCI loses Avonmouth. Operations will move to the nearest site — work previously at Aldershot, for example, will switch to LCI's Croydon base.
Some sharing of vehicles is possible although specialist operations could pose difficulties. LCI distributes electronic products, Bondelivery carries goods such as liquor and tobacco, and BVS moves equipment such as complete computer systems, which it also installs.
The depot closures will be phased from January to September 1992 and displaced workers will be offered jobs in new depots "where practical". A further meeting with the TGWU takes place this month.
Inter Forward is owned by Ratos, a Swedish banking, property and finance group.