Poznan-Gadki / Poland, April 19, 2012 – OBI, one of the leading retailers for home improvement in Poland, and Kuehne + Nagel have entered into a two year warehousing and distribution contract.
Since 2007, Kuehne + Nagel has managed the import seafreight shipments for the Polish OBI stores. According to the new contract, Kuehne + Nagel will also take over warehousing and distribution to all OBI stores in Poland. This includes the handling of import containers from Asia and Europe as well as shipments from local suppliers. Data exchange with the suppliers is processed via the OBI supplier integration platform. The hub operation is managed in a facility located at the intersection of A1 and S8 in Piotrkow Trybunalski, some 130 kilometres south of Warsaw.
In order to provide transparent and reliable distribution services to over 40 OBI stores across Poland, Kuehne + Nagel has developed a booking application which allows all OBI stores to view the central stock in order to avoid shortages. Value-added-services such as labelling and crossdocking pallets for some suppliers complement the service portfolio.
The project was implemented within three months following Kuehne + Nagel’s proven CTI (Customer Transition & Integration) methodology. The process ensures a smooth transition and integration of the customer’s business using experienced project specialists, standardised tools and systematic knowledge transfer.
Adam Rosiński, Member of the Board of OBI Poland, comments: “Combining the international with the domestic shipment flows gives us the opportunities to lever the information across the whole process, which is important in our business which has a strong seasonal focus.”
Tobias Jerschke, Managing Director of Kuehne + Nagel in Poland says: “We are especially proud of this business win, as Kuehne + Nagel with its global logistics network is responsible for the management of the entire OBI supply chain beginning at the container terminal in Asia, including the intermodal pre-haulage and warehousing services in Poland and finishing with the final delivery to the OBI stores. This is true door-to-door supply chain management.”
About Kuehne + Nagel
With more than 63,000 employees at 1000 locations in over 110 countries, the Kuehne + Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics companies. Its strong market position lies in the seafreight, airfreight, contract logistics and overland businesses, with a clear focus on providing IT- ased integrated logistics solutions.
In Poland, Kuehne + Nagel operates 19 locations with over 1.900 employees and 190.000 sqm warehousing space.
About OBI
OBI is one of the leading European DIY brands offering a wide range of home improvement and gardening products. Currently, the company operates in 12 Central and Eastern European countries more than 530 stores. In Poland OBI is present since 15 years and has actually 41 stores with more than 4.000 employees. Further stores will be open in Sochaczew and Piotrków Trybunalski in summer 2012.
SOURCE: Submitted by Kuehne + Nagel
