PRESS RELEASE

Issued 17 November 2014 – for immediate release

KNAPP wins two awards with John Lewis

In a year of activities to commemorate 150 years in business, John Lewis has another reason to celebrate: the UK's largest department store retailer has scooped two awards with its logistics automation supplier, KNAPP, at the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards.

Held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 5 November, the European Supply Chain Excellence (ESCE) Awards recognize outstanding logistics performance in a range of industries and disciplines. John Lewis and KNAPP AG jointly won the categories ‘Retail & E-Tail' and ‘Warehouse Initiative'.

Both awards recognize the huge success of John Lewis' omni-channel fulfillment, much of which is performed at the retailer's Magna Park distribution centre in Milton Keynes using advanced logistics automation systems from KNAPP.

John Lewis has seen phenomenal growth in its direct-to-customer business and, as a result, the company is now investing in a second distribution centre at Magna Park. The new DC, being kitted out by KNAPP, is connected to the existing facility by a link bridge.

The ESCE accolades come hot on the heels of other awards recently for John Lewis – the retailer picked up two prizes at the Hermes Retail Week Supply Chain Awards and one at the CILT Annual Awards for Excellence.

Commented David James, Regional Director for KNAPP, who attended the awards with other members of the KNAPP and John Lewis teams, "We are thrilled to have won these awards together with John Lewis. Since the automated facility at Magna Park was first conceived some seven years ago, we have developed a close working relationship with the logistics team at John Lewis. Their enlightened approach to investment in supply chain automation is making a significant contribution to the success of John Lewis, and it's very pleasing to see this recognised across the industry."

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A high-resolution version of the image below is available on request to:heidi@bridgeland-copyright.co.uk

KNAPP and John Lewis ESCE Awards.JPG
Dino Rocos, Operations Director for John Lewis, receives the ESCE Award for ‘Retail & E-Tail', flanked byHarry Yearsley, Managing Directorof award sponsor, Yearsley Logistics (far left); John Munnelly, Head of Operations at John Lewis' Magna Park Campus (left); Heimo Robosch,Executive Vice President of KNAPP AG (right); and the awards host, Martin Bayfield, former member of the England rugby team (far right).

About KNAPP
KNAPP AG operates internationally in the field of warehouse automation and warehouse logistics software. The company, headquartered in Austria, has 2,500 employees worldwide. The high export quota of 98% reflects the international character of the business: KNAPP has 20 subsidiaries and 13 representative offices around the globe. In the fiscal year 2013/2014, the company achieved a turnover of over 383 million euros, the highest since its founding.
 

Company contact:
Mr Craig Rollason, Managing Director

KNAPP UK Ltd

Tel:  01844 202149

Media contact:
Heidi Scott, Partner
Bridgeland Copyright
Tel: 01622 832598
E-mail:heidi@bridgeland-copyright.co.uk