Moving loads efficiently in the beverage industry can be a precarious business, particularly for a company such as Marston’s which handles kegs, casks, spirits and soft drinks at its 14 depots across the UK.
For an operation dealing with diverse loads of different shapes and sizes, a one-size-fitsall approach to its materials handling needs is unlikely to deliver the levels of productivity required. As Marston’s expanded its business, it turned to trusted Yale partner, Briggs Equipment, for a tailored solution.
Marston’s has a history that dates back to 1890 when it originally operated as Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries. Now the UK’s top independent pub retailing and brewing business, the company operates around 1,600 pubs with over 14,300 employees across the UK, and remains the only brewer to use Burton Union Sets, a system where barrels are linked via pipework during fermentation.
Industry experts at Yale Europe Materials Handling understand the challenges associated with handling kegs and pallets in large quantities, including the loading and unloading of lorries. This understanding has been a key part in the successful relationship between Briggs Equipment and Marston’s.
Following the acquisition of both the Charles Wells Brewing and Beer business and various supply contracts in 2017, Marston’s elected to bring the distribution operation in-house at a new site in West Thurrock.
Marston’s issued a detailed tender as part of a group-wide procurement and required a fleet that would predominantly transfer pallets of beer, spirits and soft drinks as well as keg and cask products to kerbside lorries for onward distribution.
