UK bakers drive sustainable supply chain with lowest equipment losses in five years
The UK’s leading bakers are delighted to announce that attrition rates on bread baskets and dolly equipment across the UK’s bakery supply chain have fallen once again – now reaching their lowest levels since 2020 – as smarter tracking, stronger audits and tougher enforcement measures continue to deliver results, new figures from Bakers Basco reveal.
FOR THE 2024/25 period, attrition stands at -9.84% for baskets and -6.05% for dollies, marking a continued downward trend and a positive sign of improvement as the bakery industry continues to innovate on efforts to track, recover and retain reusable equipment.
Despite turbulent conditions over the past decade – from pandemic disruption to driver shortages to ongoing supply chain challenges – the downward shift points to a more connected, data-driven approach to equipment management, with fewer losses translating into less waste, less cost and a lighter environmental footprint.
“When equipment goes missing or is abused outside the supply chain, it’s not just an inconvenience, it’s a hidden cost to the whole industry,” explains Paul Empson, general manager at Bakers Basco. “Thanks to improved stock counts, audit processes and the continued rollout of GPS tracker technology, we now have better visibility and control than ever before – and we’re seeing that pay off in the numbers.”
Bakers Basco, which manages a shared pool of approximately five million Omega baskets and 450,000 dollies for the leading UK bakeries, has consistently taken a firm approach to preventing equipment misuse. In recent years, it has intensified site inspections and recovery efforts, supported by a national awareness campaign, real-time asset tracking and a partnership with CrimeStoppers to address criminal misuse and theft.
By pinpointing backlogs and blockages and addressing third-party abuse, the operations and investigations teams are able to intervene faster and minimise further losses, helping to keep the circular economy flowing.
“This isn’t just about reclaiming missing baskets, it’s about running a tighter, more efficient, more sustainable supply chain,” adds Empson. “The more connected we are through data, the more resilient the system becomes.”
For more information, visit www.bakersbasco.com
