The challenge
Peacock Salt is the largest distributor of salt products in the UK. The company recently celebrated its 140-year anniversary making it, by far, the oldest salt company in the United Kingdom, and one of the oldest in the world.
It is a key supplier of de-icing salt and winter equipment to local authorities, businesses and homes. However, its product range covers a wide range of applications including water softeners, animal feed, cosmetics, cooking and tanning.
White road salt is an alternative to cheaper and more traditional brown salt. This high-quality product is imported from Spain and Tunisia and arrives at Peel Ports’ King George V dock in central Glasgow.
Peacock Salt charter vessels with capacities to import in lots of 7000 – 9000 tonnes at a time for retailers, some councils, public buildings and bagging plants that sell to the general public.
Naturally enough, the market is extremely seasonable and even the last few years alone have seen exceptional variation in winter temperatures. That poses a supply chain challenge, with the need to upscale activity and manage that well in response with the unpredictable Scottish weather.
The solution
With so much uncertainty at the demand side, Peacock Salt and Peel Ports work well together to ensure there’s as much control and good organisation in order to deal with fluctuations.
When a vessel arrives at King George V, Peel Ports staff unload, transfer, store and redeliver the stock. Peelports manage the entire administration process on behalf of Peacock Salt as part of the order delivery planning process.
The dock has extensive outdoor space, combining storage availability with excellent road and rail connectivity beyond Glasgow.
Thanks to the specialist facilities on site, including a mobile harbour crane, it’s possible to discharge a vessel of 7000 tonnes of salt in around 12 hours.
Gregorie Marshall, Managing Director at Peacock Salt, said: “Peel Ports Clydeport at King George V dock offers us the ideal combination of location, space, facilities and service. This last one is especially important because they do everything for us. It’s great for us to be able to rely on the Peel Ports team to deliver an efficient turnaround.
Elaine Bennett, Sales Manager at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “Peacock Salt has been a long-standing customer of ours and it’s always a pleasure to welcome them. We’re proud to be an extended part of their team. Together, we help to keep road users and pedestrians safe in winter by getting their quality product to the right place and the right time when it’s most needed.