Palletline Meets the Tiling Challenge

Shipping fragile yet heavy tiles around the UK to differing and sometimes inaccessible delivery destinations demands a distribution solution which successfully combines reliability with flexibility and careful handling. British Ceramic Tile - one of the leading tile manufacturers in the UK – entrusts palletised distribution specialists Palletline to deliver safely every time.

British Ceramic Tile supplies to a wide range of differing outlets nationwide, delivering to the major multiples, national house developers and directly to the trade including independent tile retail outlets, contractors and specifiers.

The company began working with Devon-based Palletline Member Company Gregory Distribution over a decade ago, initially moving full loads and pallet load consignments around the UK to meet developing requirements. Since then, the relationship between the companies has strengthened and formalised. Today, Gregory Distribution manages the entire transportation solution on behalf of British Ceramic Tile, of which over 70% is delivered via the Palletline network.

In line with recent investment for manufacturing efficiency, British Ceramic Tile is also constantly striving to reduce energy use in transportation, both from ‘quarry to kiln’ using locally sourced raw materials and from ‘kiln to customer’ via responsible distribution solutions.

Matthew Gazzard, Financial Director for British Ceramic Tile, comments on how the solution provides a good fit with his company’s corporate philosophies. “Not only do Gregory Distribution and the Palletline link give us a comprehensive transport solution, but the manner of distribution also matches our environmental credentials,” he stated. “Palletline’s operating procedures give us a cost effective and sustainable option for transporting our products across the UK, reducing road miles and helping us to offer better value for money to our customers than most of our competitors.”

British Ceramic Tile and Gregory Distribution have now signed a new seven year deal for warehousing and distribution where Palletline plays an important role in what is essentially a full 3PL solution provided by Gregory Distribution.