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Getting ready for Peak: five moves UK retailers should make now

For consumers, peak retail season is still months away. For supply chains, it has already begun. Retailers are bringing forward purchasing decisions and moving Christmas and seasonal merchandise earlier through their networks as they navigate volatile freight costs, shifting trade policies, geopolitical disruption and uncertain consumer demand. The objective is understandable: secure inventory, reduce exposure to further disruption and avoid being caught short when demand accelerates.

Staffing the warehouse of the future: how businesses can build a workforce ready for what’s next

As warehouses become increasingly automated, connected and data-driven, conversations about the future of intralogistics often focus on technology. From autonomous mobile robots and AI-powered warehouse management systems to connected forklift trucks and predictive analytics, innovation is transforming how goods move through the supply chain.

What is a pouch sorter – and how can it benefit my business?

Pouch sorter (AKA pocket sorter) technology is a powerful automation tool that can significantly benefit a business operating in e-commerce distribution – particularly for high-speed order fulfilment, returns processing and batch picking.

How the BEUMER stretch hood A helps protect products, improve load stability and support efficient operations

Damaged products, unstable loads, production bottlenecks and rising operating costs can significantly affect packaging and logistics performance. Maintaining load stability during transport, protecting products during storage and handling, and keeping throughput high are ongoing challenges for many operations.

That small sign on your racking deserves your full attention

Walk into any modern warehouse and there will be a large structure dominating the room – your racking. While the simple structure may look unremarkable, it just so happens to be doing one of the most important jobs, safely holding tonnes of stock above employees’ heads.

Shed of the Month September 2026: Par Excellence

Incremental tweaks and continuous modifications building on lessons learned with previous designs and developed schemes nationwide, have landed Tritax Big Box with its first BREEAM Outstanding buildings – a level of excellence not to be sneezed at: less than 1% all new non-domestic developments (including industrial projects) successfully secure the BREEAM Outstanding rating as the Building Research Establishment (BRE) structures its benchmarks so that the “Outstanding” rating—which requires an overall score of 85% or higher — is strictly reserved for the top tier of innovators.

Choosing a WMS in 2026: what actually matters

Choosing a warehouse management system used to come down to a fairly short list of household names. That list has grown considerably, and so has the range of what a WMS is now expected to do, from basic pick-and-pack tracking through to AI-driven labour forecasting and robotics orchestration.

Peak doesn’t create packaging problems. It reveals them.

Peak season is often treated as a test of how quickly a warehouse can pick, pack and despatch more orders. But it can also expose something less obvious: packaging decisions made throughout the year may be quietly limiting the capacity available when it matters most.

Logistics planning could be finally changing

The updated NPPF features the UK’s first-ever dedicated national planning policy for freight and logistics. Will this, alongside a new PM intent on rewiring the state, transform consents, capacity, connectivity and other pressing issues? John Gregory, partner at Weightmans explores the issue.

Beyond the Heatwave: building more adaptable supply chains

With much of England in drought according to the National Drought Group at times during the summer, the soaring temperatures of the summer’s heatwaves caused widespread disruption from travel delays to stretched public services. But a less obvious impact has been the mounting strain extreme weather such as this is placing on supply chains, says Tim Moylan, chief growth officer, Infios.

What is stretch hood packaging – and how can it improve load stability, product protection and logistics efficiency?

Stretch hood packaging is increasingly used by manufacturers as well as warehouses and distribution centres seeking to protect palletised goods while improving end-of-line efficiency.

Katherine Parker joins Tomorrow’s Warehouse Manchester

Tomorrow’s Warehouse Manchester has secured Katherine Parker, vice president of professional services at supply chain execution specialist Infios, who will bring her hands-on transformation expertise at a major grocer to the panel closing the event’s opening session.

How to swerve the Emissions Trading hit

You may have heard of the EU’s ETS1 for major users of fossil fuels, but are you aware of ETS2 and its UK equivalent, which is set for 2028 and aimed at smaller businesses? The implications for transport and transit packaging are significant – firmly raising the specter of oversized boxes as a financial liability. Chris More looks ahead at how packers and transport companies can lessen the blow.

Fostering supply chain partnerships more important than ever

Chris Clowes, executive director at global supply chain and logistics consultancy SCALA gives notes on how to foster strong 3PL collaboration.

Muting in practice: The Leuze path to a safe solution

Muting allows the safety function on machines or systems to be temporarily bypassed so that material can be fed in or out through protective devices such as light curtains or laser scanners without interrupting the production process.

The machine already knows

Baumann Sideloaders has been developing its connected Baumann Online system to capture and interpret information directly from the truck, giving customers and service teams a much clearer picture of what is happening during everyday operation.

Can I carry out my own racking repairs?

A question we’re asked all the time at SEMA is whether warehouse teams can carry out their own repairs. After all, the racking looks like a simple structure and with an maintenance team on hand it will be quicker and cheaper than getting the professional in. SEMA president Nick Betteley reports.

Expand vertically to overcome space constraints

Hira Industries has increased warehouse capacity by going vertical, supported by Combilift and Kanoo Machinery UAE.

Key question: Can your robots flex?

Warehouse environments have never been completely predictable and Denis Niezgoda argues the level of variability operators are being asked to manage is actually increasing.

ALF Aquatic Distributors streamline operations and eliminate waste with Toyota Material Handling UK

ALF Aquatic Distributors has transformed its warehouse operation and eliminated key areas of operational waste following a pilot project with Toyota Material Handling UK. By replacing traditional drive-in racking with Radioshuttle technology, the Bedford-based wholesaler has improved stock rotation, streamlined picking, made better use of its existing space and reduced operational disruption – creating additional capacity to support continued business growth without the need to relocate.

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