GAC Logistics has announced its contract renewal with Al Futtaim Retail which holds the Marks & Spencer’s franchise to manage the international retail brand’s warehousing and distribution needs across the GCC.

Under the continuing arrangement, GAC Logistics will manage Marks & Spencer’s distribution centre in Dubai and handle delivery to the global retailer’s nine stores across UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, including the largest Marks & Spencer store outside the United Kingdom located within Dubai Festival City.

As part of its total supply chain solution, GAC also manages specific orders from each store which are processed in line with daily sales, prepares and delivers the stock by the following day, said a top GAC official.

A comprehensive host of tailored value-added services from suppliers are provided. GAC also supports Marks & Spencer with consultancy on store lading bay design and store stock rooms, sale pricing, shop fitting assembly, in-store merchandising and even in-store staff assistance during sale time.

GAC Dubai managing director Dan Hjalmarsson said the company, which has been in partnership with Al Futtaim Retail since 1996, was investing more resources 'which demonstrate our commitment to key clients like Marks & Spencer.'

“We are investing $3.6 million in a specialised hanging garment system to support the future growth requirements with an infrastructure that meets their strict quality requirements, dedicated to the Marks & Spencer business.”

Sebastian Thomas, supply chain manager, Al Futtaim Retail Division, said that the new long-term contract which makes GAC one of their main logistics partner was an affirmation of the company’s relentlessly high service level over the years. GAC’s contribution as a key supply chain partner was recently acknowledged with its “Service Excellence Award” in 2007.

'GAC has played a pre-dominant role in designing, developing and managing the supply chain for a number of our retail brands. The Marks and Spencer Supply Chain model is considered as one of the most efficient logistics solutions in the region,' Thomas noted.

With major expansion plans in the pipeline, Al Futtaim Retail values and expects the partnership with GAC to continue supporting its business growth, he added.-TradeArabia News Service