S/B/29. Dissertation. OUTSOURCING: TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE THE UK's MAJOR GROCERY MULTIPLES USED THIRD PARTIES IN THEIR LOGISTICS OPERATIONS?

This dissertation provides an overview of the UK grocery sector and the major multiples that operate within it. Logistics has played an increasingly important part in the operations of these major multiples however; the role of third party logistics providers in this operation is something that most literature around these subjects only skims. For this reason this report aims to evaluate the roles adopted by third party logistics providers in the provision of services to the UK's major grocery multiples. It considers the literature that already exists on this subject, how these third parties serve the sector and finally how these third parties can best serve the major grocery multiples in the future. This report has found that as long as the UK grocery market continues to evolve towards total operating efficiency then third party logistics service providers will have a continued role in serving the major multiples logistics and distribution needs. This is a full dissertation including definitions, graphs and references.