Asda takes collection service from EVCL Chill in-house
Asda has today confirmed that it will take a collection service provided by its logistics partner EVCL Chill and 290 employees in-house.
EVCL Chill works with Asda to deliver its ‘Asda Collect’ service, which transports chilled products from Asda suppliers, to two sites in Daventry and Rochdale before they go out to Asda stores. The Daventry site is operated by EVCL Chill and the Rochdale service is located at an Asda depot, operated by logistics partner, Wincanton.
Asda is transferring its ‘Asda Collect’ operation from EVCL Chill’s Daventry operation across to its nearby Lutterworth chilled depot and 171 colleagues dedicated to the service will transfer across to the site and Asda employment with immediate effect. Asda is also opening up vacancies at its Lutterworth site to any colleagues at EVCL Chill who are impacted by the Daventry site closure and are not eligible for TUPE, but may wish to join the team at Asda.
Asda will also in-house the Asda Collect operation at Rochdale, and 122 colleagues who are dedicated to the Asda service at that site will transfer employment to Asda’s operating partner Wincanton, effective 24 September 2021.
Asda has engaged colleagues and their representatives at the two sites and will continue to do so over the coming days.
Mark Simpson, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Asda said; “This has been a difficult week for the team at EVCL Chill and we understand this is a worrying time for colleagues at the two sites in Rochdale and Daventry. Our first priority has been to maintain the flow of supply into our stores and protect as many jobs as possible – and I am pleased to be able to give the firm reassurance that Asda Collect will continue to operate as normal for our suppliers and all the colleagues dedicated to this service at EVCL will transfer to Asda and Wincanton. In addition, we will look to offer new opportunities to as many EVCL Chill colleagues as we can at our Lutterworth site. Those working in our industry have had to demonstrate huge resilience and agility over the last 18 months in very difficult circumstances and I’d like to thank everyone in our distribution network for their continued efforts.”
James Wroath, CEO of Wincanton said; Wincanton is proud to support our valued long-term customer, Asda, in responding quickly to the latest challenge in our food supply chains. This important extension to our relationship with Asda will ensure food manufacturers get their products to Asda stores and customers across the UK and, importantly, ensure continued employment for colleagues in the Asda supply chain who we look forward to welcoming to Wincanton.