The forum, which was launched by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) UK at the Food & Drink Logistics Show in Birmingham, is designed to enable food and drink supply chain personnel, ranging from third-party logistics providers to logistics directors in manufacturing firms, to network, collaborate and share insights.
Only CILT members can become members of the forum, which is one of several industry groups it is setting up. Through it, CILT aims to organise online discussions and events covering a range of issues aimed at promoting and benchmarking best practice throughout the supply chain. Topics identified for initial discussion in the forum include driver training, collaboration, cost saving, carbon reporting and consolidation.
Industry representatives gave their support to the initiative at the show. They included Ian Stansfield, distribution director for Asda; Chris Sturman, chief executive of the Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF); and Sean Negus, product supply director for Brakes Group.
"The objective was to provide leadership across various supply chain disciplines of which food is one," said Sturman.
The FSDF launched a new energy efficiency guide for the temperature controlled supply chain and a food logistics driving programme in partnership with the Automobile Association at the Food & Drink Logistics Show.