Bako NW

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Purchasing, Storage and Delivery

Purchasing

Bako North Western purchases over 37,000 tonnes of product every year, providing 2,700 different product lines.  These are purchased from a total of some 180 suppliers, all of whom are audited and appear on our Approved Suppliers’ List.

We take purchasing very seriously at Bako North Western. Our team of specialist purchasing professionals each specialise in specific areas to bring you the best value across our product range. We seek to form long-term buyer/supplier relationships to maximise our buying power.  This provides our customers with exceptional value on the highest quality goods available. The majority of orders are placed via internet links with our suppliers, providing the fastest possible response to customer needs.  All stock is purchased to rigorous specifications and to an agreed shelf life, to ensure that goods reach our customers in prime condition

Our purchasing power is further enhanced by combining our orders with those of the other companies in the Bako Group.  The co-operation and partnership of the 5 independent Bako regional companies has made Bako unbeatable on price, quality and service for many years.

Despatch

All customer orders are co-ordinated by our Warehouse Department prior to picking and assembly ready for distribution. Some 12,500 loads are despatched from our Warehouse annually.  Orders are taken by our Customer Services team and automatically sent to the Warehouse office for processing.

The close working relationship between Customer Services and Warehouse, reduces the possibility of errors ensuring our customers receive their orders accurately and on time.  For anyone, customer or non-customer, who prefers to pick up their own stock, we offer a very successful cash and carry service, whereby customers telephone in advance to place their orders, which are picked and waiting for them when they arrive.

Warehousing

The Warehouse facility occupies some 59,000 square feet of floor space and holds an amazing 3,860 tonnes of stock.  Stock management is critical to the success of the warehouse and utilising sophisticated, computerised stock management and location control techniques, stock is typically turned within 15 days. All systems implemented in the Warehouse conform to ISO Quality standards with maximum emphasis on efficiency and hygiene.   A daily cycle count ensures optimum stock accuracy, while maintaining an effective stock turn.

The Warehouse operates 24 hours a day throughout the working week, with different shifts controlling all goods in inwards, order picking and order assembly, in preparation for the next morning’s despatch.

Freezer and Chiller

The separate cold storage facility keeps all products at a constant -20 degrees centigrade and has enough capacity to hold 900 pallets of goods in the10 metre high facility. The freezer and chiller are fully alarmed and monitored 24 hours a day, ensuring the temperature is kept to the pre-determined levels. State of the art sensor doors are also used to optimise temperature control.  All systems are supported by a back-up generator, for added security.

All picking lists are separated to allow frozen products to be handled separately and kept at the optimum temperature. This reduces the time required to pick a complete order and keeps frozen product in the freezer until our specialist freezer staff load it straight onto our temperature-controlled delivery vehicles.

Distribution

The extensive loading bay allows for all ambient orders to be marshalled prior to loading ready for delivery. Careful planning at this stage ensures temperature sensitive products are loaded promptly, straight from the freezer.  This also provides another opportunity to carefully check the order against the information received from the customer. The loading bay is equipped with dock levellers and air bags to prevent any ingress or infestation.

Bako North Western’s own fleet of 26 multi-purpose wagons is fully temperature controlled, permitting safe and efficient delivery of frozen, chilled and ambient products utilising three separate compartments.  The majority of wagons are fitted with environmentally friendly electric Frigoblock units, which reduce noise and diesel pollution.

All our driver’s are highly trained and subject to ongoing development.  They have all undergone advanced defensive driving courses and are skilled in the difficult manoeuvring required to deliver in today’s busy towns and cities.

Customer Delivery

All orders are despatched the next working day and arrive before 3p.m. Our highly trained drivers deliver and unload over 500 orders per day and are always on hand to answer any questions you may have relating to your order. We currently have no minimum order value in our North-West delivery area.

Accounts

Our Accounts Department processes 500 invoices daily, keeping clients up to date with their individual accounts, as well as providing monthly statements. Our terms are 21 days following the month of delivery but we offer a 1.5% early payment discount for payment by 14 days after the month of delivery.  We also offer an extremely popular Direct Debit facility.  This automatically ensures that customers qualify for our Early Payment Discount.

Our friendly Accounts are also on hand to assist with any financial issues our customers or suppliers may have. Our Customer Services Department will also be more than happy to put you through to the Accounts Department, should you wish to discuss your account in more detail. We monitor all accounting matters very closely at Bako, which is another key feature permitting us to pass on cost savings to our customers.