Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management
You are a global sourcing manager for a UK–based supermarket. The company has 550 supermarket stores in UK major cities. The company imports grocery products (e.g., fresh vegetables and fruits, processed food, beverages, and snacks) from within the UK and different countries. The company has a central warehouse in Milton Keynes.
You are being asked to source a new grocery product from outside of the UK to be sold at the 550 supermarket stores.
Task 1
1. Perform a research to explain why the chosen product is suitable for the supermarket and its customers. Choose a country of origin for the product and explain why it is a suitable supply source.
Existing
products
New product Country
(source)
Grocery retail e.g. ASDA Profitable?
Suitable?
Task 2
2. Suggest suitable transportation mode(s) (i.e. air, sea, rail, road, etc.) for importing the product (all the way from the supplier at the country of origin to the central warehouse in the UK, and finally the supermarket stores). Support your suggestions with convincing theoretical/practical arguments.
Import volume?
Packaging?
Transportation modes?
UK location?
Country (source)?
Intermodal?
Deliver to 350 stores? Replenishment?
Task 3
3. Suggest suitable port(s) of export in the country of origin and the port(s) of import in the UK and design effective supply and distribution networks for the product. Critically support your suggestions with convincing arguments and additional information about each port and network design.
Ports of exports?
Port of imports?
Supply network?
Total (landed) cost?
Lead time?
Inventory?
Task 4
4. Illustrate, using a process diagram, all the parties involved, main activities and all documentation required to manage the imports of the product all the way from the supplier in the country of origin to the central warehouse in the UK, and finally all supermarket stores.
Process diagram?
Activities?
Documentations?
Processing?
Incoterms?
Service providers?
Country (source)? Supplier tasks?
Duty/tax/tariff? Currency exchange?
Task 5
5. Considering recent developments, suggest how the company might govern and control the supply risk, sustainability and cost of imports and the reliability of the delivery of the chosen product in the future.
Ethical issues?
Environmental issues?
Risks?
Labour issues?
Human right?
Governance?
