Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics

Be prepared for the peak, urges Rhenus

[ October 28, 2024   //   Chris Lewis ]

Forwarder the Rhenus Group is urging businesses to plan ahead for the peak logistics period to beat delays ahead of the key sales events of the year. It says that the retail industry is experiencing a notable shift, with this year’s peak sales period arriving earlier than usual.

Prime sales dates such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas are forecast to peak earlier this year, it says, driven by a combination of factors, including disruption in the Red Sea and significant shipping bottlenecks. With retailers opting to make products available to consumers as soon as they arrive, effectively pulling peak trading forward, logistics delivery times have been extended, prompting retailers to place orders earlier to ensure product availability during the critical holiday season.

Rhenus Road UK managing director, Gary Dodsworth, said: “By planning ahead and leveraging the right partnerships, FMCG businesses and retailers can navigate this critical period with confidence, ensuring they meet customer expectations and maximising their profitability.”

The company says that if there are any inefficiencies in operations, now is the time to resolve them including selecting the right logistics partner carrying out any additional training and checking what flexibility and capacity is available to manage peaks and troughs in demand.

It is also important to have plans in place to deal with potential winter disruption and not to leave anything until the last minute as delivery slots will book up early.