Global hygiene business Essity has collaborated with European pallet suppliers IPP to introduce a display pallet to support increasing demand from Lidl.
IPP supplies more than two million pallets per year for Essity, which owns tissue and paper towel brands including Cushelle, Tork and Plenty.
The two businesses have collaborated for nearly two decades, a partnership which has now been extended to include display pallets on the aisles of Lidl UK. Essity uses IPP’s wooden Dusseldorfer pallets for displaying its products, which provide ease of use with seamless integration into the supply chain.
One of the main strengths of the display pallet is its capability to support product growth and promotional peaks within a demanding retail model, enabling Essity’s expansion within this arena. As part of IPP’s pooling network, pallets are consistently maintained and managed to reduce environmental impact and improve transport and storage efficiency across the supply chain.
Paul Vale, Essity’s UK logistics manager, said:
“Our long relationship with IPP is down to its excellent service, agility and transparency, along with trust and reliability. It has an in-depth understanding of our business and can respond and react as and when we need. IPP is on hand to provide support with promotional peaks and has been instrumental in helping launch our display pallets in Lidl. It’s been an exciting year so far for us at Essity, and we’re glad to have a reliable supply chain provider which continues to invest in solutions to drive performance.”
The two companies have developed a strong partnership focussed on innovation and sustainable ways of working, with IPP establishing an operational presence at two of Essity’s largest UK manufacturing sites in Trafford and Prudhoe, to mitigate costs, reduce Co2 emissions and help operations run smoothly.
This work includes incentivising transporters and identifying empty running legs where additional Essity products could be decanted and trans-shipped.
IPP specialises in providing reusable wooden pallets for major manufacturers and fast-moving consumer goods brands. It is constantly evolving and investing in digital and data-led solutions to improve visibility and efficiencies across customer supply chains, ensuring partners receive the best support as they continue to grow.
Andy Maddock, regional managing director for IPP UK&I, said:
“IPP’s long relationship with Essity is testament to our quality and dependable supply, and ability to grow alongside the company. We’re excited to have helped Essity provide display pallets in budget supermarkets this year and renew our contract. We look forward to seeing where the future takes our partnership.”
