Foxs has Streamlined its Production and Service Levels to Retailers Using FuturMaster Technology : UK biscuit manufacturer Foxs has streamlined its production and service levels to retailers by using FuturMaster technology. The £250 million biscuit company has put work in to improving its forecasting, manufacturing and promotions planning practices. This improvement has occurred after adopting the new supply chain technology. The technology, from FuturMaster has given a boost to the manufacturer’s service levels. The manufacturer is now able to make up to 150 deliveries a week to its retailers including the supermarket chains Tesco, M&S and Aldi. This new technology has allowed the customer service levels to increase from 96% to 99% for the cases of biscuits sold. Fox’s sells more than 30 million cases each year and is a long standing brand name in the UK.

Started in 1853 in West Yorkshire, Fox’s has made 1,450 billion biscuits at its three manufacturing bakeries located in Batley, Kirkham, and Uttoxeter. The UK brand is also exported to Europe, North America and the Far East. Fox’s has been a part of the third leading food manufacturer, 2 Sisters Food Group since 2011. With the ability to make around 400 million packets of biscuits every year, the company relies on FuturMasters ability to forecast more accurately the planning production needs as well as managing the peaks and troughs of production levels throughout the year. This includes planning ahead for the special productions like the Christmas lines, and managing the storage of the biscuits after manufacture. These ranges are planned well in advance, as early as January the chocolate for the products is kept frozen until required for manufacturing the biscuits.

The company employs in excess of 2,000 people and then employs more people during their peak times like June and November. Therefore being able to use the FuturMaster forecasting technology allows for the extra people to be brought in at the right time as well as predicting when an increased amount of biscuits need to be produced.