Supply Chain Management at Metcash: An E-Supply Chain Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Metcash's e-supply chain management. It begins with an executive summary and table of contents, followed by an introduction that highlights the competitive landscape driving companies to strengthen their supply chains. The report then delves into Metcash's history, products (food, liquor, and hardware), and customer base, emphasizing its role as a major wholesaler in Australia. It identifies key suppliers, including G&K Fine Foods, Henkel Australia, and Woolworths, and presents a supply chain diagram illustrating the flow of goods. The transportation network, including trucks, cargo ships, and air freight, is discussed in detail. The technical aspects of the supply chain, such as automated order writing and ERP software, are also examined. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of a robust supply chain strategy for Metcash's success in the Australian wholesale market and its ability to maintain a competitive advantage. The report references several academic sources to support its analysis.

Running head: E SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
E Supply Chain Management
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Executive Summary
This report focuses on the supply chain management in the context of Metcash. The ongoing
competition is leading majority of companies to strengthen their supply chain network for the
sake of improving their productivity and thus compete with the rivals. Metcash is the largest
wholesalers in Australia, delivering high quality of products across food, liquor and hardware
sector. The company is at the 25th position among the top 2000 companies across Australia. The
company holds a strong network of suppliers with the intention of maintaining healthy
relationship with the independent retailers. This is the key of ensuring smooth flow of products
across the countries. Potential transporters are also being accessed by Metcash for the sake of
shipping the products in a timely and cost effective manner.

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Part A:..............................................................................................................................................3
Brief history of Metcash:.............................................................................................................3
Products of the company and their customers:............................................................................4
Suppliers of Metcash:..................................................................................................................5
Supply chain diagram along :......................................................................................................6
Transportation network and transporters used by the company:.................................................7
Supply chain network of Metcash:..............................................................................................7
Technical basis of supply chain:..................................................................................................8
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................8
Reference List:.................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction:
Intense competition in the market is acting as a driving force behind the companies to
modify their business process. The companies are also showing extreme commitment towards
ensuring smooth supply of products and services in accordance with the requirements of
customers. This is the mode of generating satisfaction among the customers which is very much
needed in terms of increasing statistics of sales (Christopher 2016). Present paper deals with in-
depth discussion of the e-supply chain management in the context of Metcash. The first portion
of the assignment deals with the supply chain strategy of Metcash. The transportation network of
the company will be discussed in the paper. Brief history along with the products and service
along with its key suppliers will be explored. A comprehensive diagram of the suppliers will also
be presented.
Figure 1: Logo of Metcash
(Source: Metcash. 2018)
Part A:
Brief history of Metcash:
Metcash is one of the leading wholesale distribution companies In Australia with a sales of $14
billion during 2018. This also a major marketing company, serving high quality of food, liquor and

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multiple number of hardware. A strong basis of independent retailer is one of the most significant aspects
of Metcash which are mainly family owned. Therefore, the company has become the greatest source of
local employment. The fundamental aim of the company is to provide immense support to the
independent retailers and thereby becoming the best store in the entire town (Metcash. 2018).
Great contribution to the diverse community is the greatest strength of the firm which is
playing a key role for the firm to strengthen the local businesses. Currently, the company is also
operating their business in New Zealand in its food, grocery and the hardware sector. The
company has secured 25th position in the list of top 200 companies in Australia. The total number
of employees in Australia is 6378. Being the leading wholesaler in Australia, the company is
extremely committed towards providing high quality of services among the customers through a
strong network of potential and independent retailers (Ibisworld.com.au. 2018).
Products of the company and their customers:
The fundamental mission of the company is to produce high quality of food and
beverage, liquor along with hardware. The company serves products in these sector. The
company supports more than 1500 family owned retailers in the entire country. Metcash is
gaining wide admiration for years for serving high quality of food brands. Knowledge,
convenience and charm of the local stores is one of the most significant aspect of the
independent retailers, controlled by Metcash. The IGA retailers are serving the products at a very
low price in order to cope up with the price of every day products at the supermarket chain.
Serving locally made food products is the core objective of the company (Metcash. 2018).
Metcash is one of the largest suppliers of liquor and the second largest wholesalers across
the country. There are multiple brands such as Cellarbrations, Porters, Thirsty Camel, Big
Bargain, IGA Liquor and The Bottle-O, which are being served by Metcash across 12,000

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hotels in the entire nation. A strong base of independent local retailers is being controlled by
Metcash in order to compete with the key rivals in the market and thereby attain sustainability
from the business (Metcash. 2018). High-end hardware is also a major product served by
Metcash. The company is being considered as the largest hardware group in Australia, serving
hardware brands like Home Timber & Hardware, True Value Hardware and Hardings. In the
case of hardware too, the company serves almost 12000 stores throughout the nation. The
company is also serving the trade market with utmost proficiency.
Suppliers of Metcash:
Being the largest wholesaler of Australia, Metcash is highly committed towards attracting
wide range of suppliers and thereby promote sustainable growth of their business. The company
holds a strong network of suppliers in both national and international domain. G&K Fine Foods
is one of the major national suppliers of Metcash, providing unique food and beverages in the
nation. Henkel Australia is also a major supplier of Metcash. It has been awarded as the supplier
of the year. Excellent sales, support and innovation are some of the major aspects of Henkel
Australia, for which they have acquired this award (Retail World Magazine. 2018). The suppliers
of Australia are highly committed towards working efficiently with the independent retailers and
intended to put extreme hard work for the sake of gaining success from business.
Being the biggest grocery wholesalers in Australia, Metcash has recently made a buying
alliance with the Foodstuff of the nation in order to run their business in a cost effective manner.
According to the Australian stoke exchange, the fundamental aim of Metcash behind making
alliance with the biggest grocery retailer is to attain a collaborative buying power of $15 billion.
Woolworths is also a major international supplier of Metcash (The Sydney Morning Herald.
2018).

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Supply chain diagram along :
Figure 2: Supply Chain diagram of Metcash
(Source: Monczka et al. 2015)
According to the supply chain diagram of Metcash, it can be said that, the company is
extremely committed towards supplying their products through a strong network of distribution
channel in order to satisfy the changing demand of customers. With the assistance of supply
chain optimization process, Metcash is becoming able to improve their network and thus
distribute their products among the end customers. This is the way, through which consistent
monitoring and adjustment can also be initiated.
Production planning, material sourcing and warehouse management are some of the
greatest aspects of Metcash, through which, they are ensuring smooth flow of products in a
timely and cost effective manner. Streamlining the process of order submission is the core
objective of the supply chain strategy of Metcash, through which they are becoming able to
handle the order appropriately as per the requirements of the customers (Boonjing et al. 2015).

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Transportation network and transporters used by the company:
Transportation is one of the key elements of Metcash, through which they are ensuring
effective flow of products. This is the way, through which Metcash is generating satisfaction
among the customers by providing them with high quality of products. They generally ship their
products through trucks within the national boundary. Online product delivery strategy is being
followed by them in order to deliver products to the customers in a timely manner. In this case
also, trucks are being used by Metcash in order to reach to the customers.
In order to distribute the products across the international birder, Cargo ships are also
being used by them. They pack their products in intermodal containers to ship them
appropriately. This is the inexpensive mode of transporting products. However, it is a very slow
process, which often makes it difficult for Metcash towards responding to the requirements of
customers (Brandenburg et al. 2014). As the Air freight is one of the fastest way of shipping
products, Metcash is also accessing this way. Through this way, they are shipping high dollar
products to other countries. As food is one of the most important products of Metcash, with the
assistance of Air freights, they are shipping fresh food products to other countries. This is the
way, through which fresh food products are being kept under right temperature, which is highly
significant for protecting its freshness and nutritional value (Wisner et al. 2014).
Supply chain network of Metcash:
Metcash delivers their products through strong channel of independent retailers that are
mostly family owned. There are almost 10,000 retailers in the grocery, food, liquor and
hardware sector of Australia, who are being served by Metcash. During 2018, the company has

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experienced effective financial growth in-spite of the ongoing uncertainty in the market. The
profit tax of Metcash has been increased by $194.8 million, with a sustainable growth in the
liquor sector. At the same time, successful acquisition with Home Timber & Hardware has also
played a significant role for them to increase their statistics of profit.
Technical basis of supply chain:
Rapid development of technology is driving the corporate entities to initiate speed in their
business process. Being the largest wholesalers of Australia, Metcash is using high end
technology. They have implemented strategy in terms of automating the order writing process in
terms of tracking the order of the customers (Heizer et al. 2017). At the same time, Stepped-up
enterprise resource planning (ERP) software has also been executed for them to manage their
sales order and production for maintaining healthy relationship with the customers.
Conclusion:
Based on the discussion, it can be concluded by saying that, strong supply chain strategy
has played a significant role for strengthening the position of Metcash in the Australian
wholesale market. With the assistance of strong supply chain, the organizations are becoming
able to attain competitive advantage over the rivals. The company is extremely committed
towards accessing a strong network of distribution to ensure effective flow of products as per the
requirements of the customers. Airfreight is also being accessed by them in terms of shipping the
food products by protecting their freshness and nutritional value.

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Reference List:
Christopher, M., 2016. Logistics & supply chain management. Pearson UK.
Ibisworld.com.au. (2018). Metcash Limited. [online] Available at:
https://www.ibisworld.com.au/australian-company-research-reports/wholesale-trade/metcash-
limited-company.html [Accessed 15 Sep. 2018].
Metcash. (2018). About Us - Metcash | Australia’s leading wholesale distribution and marketing
company. [online] Available at: https://www.metcash.com/about-us/ [Accessed 15 Sep. 2018].
Metcash. (2018). Food - Metcash | Australia’s leading wholesale distribution and marketing
company. [online] Available at: https://www.metcash.com/our-businesses/food/ [Accessed 15
Sep. 2018].
Metcash. (2018). Liquor - Metcash | Australia’s leading wholesale distribution and marketing
company. [online] Available at: https://www.metcash.com/our-businesses/liquor/ [Accessed 15
Sep. 2018].
Monczka, R.M., Handfield, R.B., Giunipero, L.C. and Patterson, J.L., 2015. Purchasing and
supply chain management. Cengage Learning.
Retail World Magazine. (2018). Metcash Supplier of the Year Awards - Retail World Magazine.
[online] Available at: https://www.retailworldmagazine.com.au/metcash-supplier-year-awards/
[Accessed 15 Sep. 2018].
The Sydney Morning Herald. (2018). Metcash joins forces with NZ distributor. [online]
Available at:https://www.smh.com.au/business/metcash-joins-forces-with-nz-distributor-
20060331-gdn9yn.html [Accessed 15 Sep. 2018].

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