Joanne Mellon, BWG Foods’ logistics director, was one of a very exclusive group of honourees at the annual Fleet Transport Awards 2021 recently.
This year’s awards took a different direction, going virtual and along with it, honouring transport and logistics companies and people in service during the COVID-19 crisis.
Appointed logistics director with BWG Foods in 2016, Mellon was singled out for being one of the industry’s #StrengthInUnity Transport Heroes for her personal efforts in ensuring BWG Foods’ National Distribution Centre (NDC) supply chain operated seamlessly during the extraordinary crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said.
'Her expertise was recognised as being exemplary when the country entered lockdown,' it added.
'Safe Shopping Environment'
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, BWG Foods said that it was imperative that retailers stayed open and provided a safe shopping environment close to home for the one million customers served every day across its nationwide network of over 1,000 stores.
Knowing that a local store is open for business with ready access to essential goods and services has been an enormous comfort to the nation, it added.
BWG Foods said that while it worked very closely with over 650 suppliers to ensure it maintained healthy stock levels in line with increased consumer demand, Mellon’s leadership ensured that BWG’s sophisticated supply chain continues to operate to the highest industry standard.
It is Mellon’s responsibility to ensure that one of Ireland’s largest and most complex supply chains successfully navigates the challenges presented by the pandemic so that BWG’s NDC 120-truck fleet can remain on the road, continuing to cover more than 42,000 km and more than 600 deliveries on a daily basis.
BWG Foods’ role as a community-based food wholesaler and retailer has never been more important and Joanne’s team in the National Distribution Centre continues to work around the clock to ensure shelves remain sufficiently stocked.
Commenting on the accolade, Leo Crawford, group chief executive, BWG Group said, “The service that BWG’s family of over 1,000 independent retailers provide to their communities cannot be overstated and this is particularly relevant when these communities are forced to endure the incredible challenges presented by COVID-19.'
A company like BWG is only as strong as its people and I am immensely proud of the honour bestowed on our very deserving Joanne [Mellon] and her team at the NDC.”
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