Gray & Adams Aids £5.2 million CJ Lang Expansion Plans

CJ Lang and Son Ltd based in Dundee are Scotland’s largest independent retailing and distribution company and are probably best known within the industry as the SPAR distributor for all 396 stores throughout Scotland. The company has recently embarked on a £5.2 million project to expand the existing premises in a bid to make the current operation more efficient.

CJ Lang currently operates out of two sites: one for ambient products and the other for chilled and frozen goods. The current ambient goods centre will be expanded to incorporate the chilled and frozen operation so that all distribution will be carried out from one location. The first phase of the project has been fully operational since the end of April this year and the full amalgamation of the two sites is set for completion in January 2009.

With the ever-increasing cost of running a fleet, it is believed that the investment in the new facilities will pay off over the long term since a six mile round trip for 18 vehicles will be avoided when travelling between both distribution centres. As well as this, the company is committed to reducing their impact on the environment and the reduction in fuel emissions due to the reduction in running miles will be beneficial in this respect.

“It is our aim to make our operation leaner and better, but without reducing the high service levels that our customers have come to expect.” – Ian Fleming, Transport Operations Manager, CJ Lang & Son Ltd

To coincide with the new premises, a routine regeneration of the company’s existing fleet is also under way. A recent order for ten new Gray & Adams bodies, eight for CJ Lang SPAR distribution and two for the company’s foodservices operation are intended to replace vehicles that have reached their life end. CJ Lang has been a loyal supporter of the Gray & Adams product, evidenced by the fact that almost 100% of the company’s temperature-controlled fleet is Gray & Adams manufactured.

“We continue to buy from Gray & Adams because we have built up a good relationship with them over the years. Gray & Adams offer a premium product and we always get at least five years of operational life from their bodies.” – Ian Fleming, Transport Operations Manager, CJ Lang & Son Ltd

Perhaps the partnership of Gray & Adams and CJ Lang is an obvious and natural relationship since the two companies have many characteristics in common. Like Gray & Adams, CJ Lang remains a family-run business, despite huge expansion over the years, and like many family operated businesses, both companies still holds true to the traditional values that they were founded on. Both companies pride themselves on being customer-led and both have a genuine focus on delivering a quality service.