B&Q changes pose threat to KaIon drivers
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Paint delivery drivers working for West Yorkshire KaIon Paints are facing the axe in the latest stage of a long running shake-up of distribution operations at the B&Q superstore chain.
The DIY giant is gradually phasing out direct deliveries to its nationwide chain of 280 stores: by the end of 1996 suppliers will send all their goods to the centralised storage and distribution centre in Runcorn.
General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union convenor Mick Woodall says Kaion does about 240 deliveries a week to stores "but that will be slashed when central warehousing takes over next month. We will fight as hard as we can, but 16 redundancy notices have been sent out already" KaIon employs 75 drivers and about one third of its turnover is accounted for by B&Q. Group managing director Mike liennesy says: "We are changing our distribution arrangements, but it's not to fit in with any specific customer."
The B&Q Runcorn centre is run by Tibbett and Britten which delivers to 100 stores daily.