Bangkok--8 Dec--Hill & Knowlton
Temporary distribution centers set up by DHL, supported by the Thai government to wind down as improved situation allows retailers to relocate to own premises
Thailand’s major supermarket chains - Big C, Tops and Makro - are starting to resume operations back in their permanent sites in Wang Noi, Ayutthaya province as receding floods enable businesses to move back to their operating bases. DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, says its Supply Chain division in Thailand has started to relocate the distribution centers of these leading retailers from the current temporary distribution center at Hemaraj Industrial Estate in Chonburi.
In the wake of the floods, DHL supported the Thai Government to set up temporary distribution centers in cooperation with Big C, Tops and Makro to ensure essential goods such as rice, drinking water, and canned food remained available to consumers to reduce panic buying and prevent a run on the stores. DHL offered its logistics expertise, deployed staff and vehicles and provided logistics solutions to distribute goods to supermarket retail outlets affected areas.
In Bangkok, the first multiple site distribution center was established in Don Muang airport next to the Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC), but when floods approached Don Muang area, the government offered a new location at Hemaraj industrial park at Chonburi province.
The Hemaraj distribution centre, which has a storage capacity of 35,000 pallets and occupies over 35,000m2, has been stocking essentials including water, canned food, rice, and instant noodles. The goods were then distributed to 400 Big C, Tops and Makro branches in Bangkok and throughout the country via 200 special, high capacity trucks.
Craig Hope-Johnstone, Country Manager, DHL Supply Chain Thailand, said, “Now, as the floods begin to subside, we’re supporting Thailand’s major supermarket chains to resume operations in their distribution centers, reducing the need for the temporary distribution sites.”
“DHL is always ready to do what we can to support relief efforts. In Bangkok, we assisted the Thai government in the transportation of essential supplies. We assigned 400 staff along with a management team to work at the Hemaraj distribution centre. Our employees are regularly trained in emergency situation logistics such as this, we’re glad we could be of assistance to the country and the government in time of need,” said Paul Graham, CEO, DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific.