UK confectionery firm Kinnerton agrees distribution and warehouse deal with Knowles
UK confectionery business Kinnerton has named Knowles Transport as its core warehousing and distribution partner for its extensive product lines, writes Neill Barston.
The British company’s sweets brands have steadily expanded since the firm founded in the 1970s, and its facilities in Norfolk produces series including Easter eggs, lollipops, within a nut-free production facility.
Its range includes Swizzels, as well as licensed product ranges for children’s favourites including Paw Patrol, Barbie, and Paddington characters.
As Knowles explained, the deal represents a key moment for its own operations in marking the company’s first move into temperature-controlled logistics once the contract goes live in September 2021.
Chocolate manufacturer Kinnerton, which was the first brand to offer character chocolate in the UK in 1978, will partner with Knowles on a multi-year deal where the Cambridge-based haulier will be responsible for managing all their SKU’s as well as their warehousing and distribution.
The Kinnerton contract is another exciting addition to Knowles’ portfolio of high profile customers that sit within the food and drink sector – which the company has strategically built over the years by offering high quality end-to-end supply chain solutions while retaining a competitive cost model.
Knowles has also secured an extension on its contract with Humdinger Foods – also part of the Zertus group of companies along with Kinnerton – in turn providing a single logistics solution.
Having worked with Humdinger for the past four years, which process and package both own and branded snacks, Knowles has consistently demonstrated its willingness to go the extra mile and accommodate its customers’ specific requirements. One such example is ensuring that multiple levels of allergen segregation for different nut types is achieved in certain areas of the warehouse operation.
Currently operating a fleet of 120 vehicles and 200 trailers, the firm has recently bolstered its fleet with additional tractor units and trailers as well as increasing capacity at their Wimblington site to 30,000 racked locations.
The company currently operates more than two million square feet of warehousing space offering contract logistics, full-loads and part-loads, retailer consolidation, groupage and pallet network distribution, dedicated fleet management, and comprehensive co-packing capabilities.
Still wholly owned and operated as a family business, Alex Knowles – the third generation of Knowles to take the helm as Managing Director – is excited to enter a partnership with Kinnerton and to build its reputation as the go-to expert in food and drink 3PL across varying temperature bands.
Alex commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Kinnerton to manage all of their warehousing and distribution requirements.
“We are constantly looking for new and exciting opportunities in order to diversify our offering and its movement into the temperature controlled sector is an example of the forward thinking and confident approach we are firmly taking at Knowles.
“By regularly investing in the company’s assets and operations, the business aims to ensure that its new and existing customers consistently receive a market-leading service that is tailored to the needs of their specific supply chain requirements.”
