Gist puts the food on the shelves - and quickly

Gist, which has worked for Marks & Spencer for 35 years, currently has a contract Lasting until 2011, delivering food to 441 stores. It runs six depots around the UK, in Cumbernauld, Crewe, York, Thatcham, Faversham and Hemel Hempstead.

A seventh site at Thornbury near Bristol, which is at the moment used for handling overflow, will be converted to a full depot later his year.

Overall, 500 vehicles are used on the account, which employs around 2,500 people.

Hodgkins describes Marks & Spencer's food supply chain as "one of the fastest in the world" and it needs to work closely with its client...