The London-based footwear company FitFlop has selected Bleckmann as its partner to provide omnichannel logistics for its clients in the UK and the EU. The five-year agreement is designed to support FitFlop’s “rapid growth in its home market while providing scope for streamlined expansion across the EU,” according to a statement. FitFlop’s new logistics operations are based at Bleckmann’s distribution center in Magna Park, Lutterworth, in the heart of the UK’s “GoldenLogisticsTriangle.” FitFlop expects its sales to more than double over the course of the five-year contract.
“Bleckmann’s warehouses operate seven days a week until midnight, so we can now offer UK Mainland customers next-day delivery for orders placed on our website before 9 pm,” said Sal Billington, global logistics director at FitFlop. “This promises to be a huge competitive advantage,” Billington added.
Earlier this year, FitFlop obtained a new $30 million, five-year revolving credit facility from the independent lender Aurelius Finance Company to support its long-term growth ambitions. It also announced that it has secured several new global distribution partners to support its international expansion.
Bleckmann has provided FitFlop a 9,300-sqm footprint at its site, which includes 2,600 sqm of ”very narrow aisle” (VNA) pallet racking and 6,700 sqm of active floor space. The setup enables the distribution of more than 6,500 stock-keeping units (SKUs) directly to consumers and B2B customers. The facility features 20 multi-functional packing stations that can be used for all stages of the logistics process, from outbound to returns management.
FitFlop claims that the changeover to the new site was achieved with zero disruption to service and thanked Bleckmann for its “dedication.” Billington said that “thanks to their (Bleckmann’s) short lines of communication and regular check-ins with our sales, operations and management teams, we were able to make a smooth transition that did not affect the excellent levels of service our customers have come to expect.”
