Marks & Spencer moves into second phase of operations at Global Park

Head of international Operations of Marks & Spencer UK on a brief visit to the Country last week had extensive talks with representatives of Global Park and RJV Internaitonal to finalize the next phase of their logistics operations in Sri Lanka.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) with an annual turnover of over £8 billion (US$16 billion) is a UK based retail giant with over 400 stores located throughout the Iand 150 stores worldwide including over 130 Franchise businesses operating in 35 countries.

M&S has already selected Global Park to house their Regional Logistics huh where currently M&S brand Garments purchased by RB International from Sri Lanka. India and Bang are stored for onward distribution to M&S Outlet Stores in UK based on their stock levels and sales requirements.

This novel concept tried for the first time in the Industry by M&S was possible with the appointment of RJV International as their supplier for all surplus garments for its Outlet Stores from factories manufacturing for M&S brand in the Indian Sub continent and also with the appointment of Global Park as the warehouse provider to facilitate the project.

Global Park is a 400,00 sq.ft.purpose built state of the art logistics complex located a few kilo meters from the Katunayake Airport with easy access to the Port of Colombo and provides regional and global transportation in combination with value added services such as vacuum packing facilities, pressing, bagging ,labeling, tagging and other finishing facilities for the Apparel Industry and General Warehousing with specialized solutions for all types of logistical requirements.

The initial operation commenced last year with RJV International purchasing garments in Sri Lanka for M&S Outlet Stores. Marks & Spencer moved to the next stage of the operation this year by making a strategic decision to use the Global Park Complex to house their Regional Logistics Hub which began with the Importation of garments by RJV International from factories producing for M&S in India and Bangladesh with necessary approvals from the Government of Sri Lanka.

For the first time in history, an export consignment of Garments was shipped to M&S Outlet Stores UK in May this year by consolidating garments made in 3 different countries.

With the success of the Regional Hub that is now geared handle complex Multi Country Consolidation, M&S is now planning to use this Huh to handle Distribution to their international Stores including Franchise stores located in Asia and Middle East.

The Logistics Hub in Sri Lanka is expected to service over 15 countries in Asia and Middle East by next year which is another first for the Country under this unique logistics concept that is being handled by Global Park and RB’ International exclusively for Marks & Spencer.

Industry heavy weights such as Hirdaramani, Brandix and MAS Holdings are large direct suppliers to M&S and with the addition of this Regional Logistics Hub Sri Lanka will be an important base for Marks & Spencer.