Welcome to IPL. Now wholly owned by Asda, we are the biggest single importer of produce in the UK.
By controlling supply chains and removing middlemen and agents we are able to create value for Wal-Mart customers and shareholders.
Operating across produce, fresh foods, meats, chilled, ambient and wine IPL has aggressive expansion plans over the next five years.
We put all customers first every day
We strive to be 'world class' and 'can do' in everything we do
We care for our colleagues and are a great place to work
To create unique supply base capability for Asda / Wal-Mart
To improve value, quality and availability for Asda and Wal-Mart customers
To control the supply chain and be entrepreneurial in our pursuit of new opportunities
Where we’ve come from and where we’re heading
Formed in 2004 by joint shareholders Bakkavor and Teresa Hermanos, IPL is now one of the leading Fresh Produce importers in the UK managing all fruit categories exclusively for Asda. In October 2009 IPL was purchased by Asda, part of the World’s largest retailer Walmart.
The IPL business is designed to improve quality and lower prices for Asda and Wal-Mart customers by controlling supply chains and removing unnecessary margin takers. At the heart of this is creating transparency throughout the supply chain and leveraging volume. IPL is committed to building long term relationships with growers and exporters around the world and believe that our business model can provide fair returns and continuity for producers and business partners.
To date IPL has operated principally within Fresh Produce but has recently extended its purchasing model to cheese, fresh pasta, pate and canned meats. It continues to work exclusively for Wal-Mart and has started managing product for Japan, USA, Mexico and Canada. Asda remains and is expected to remain the focus of IPL's activity.
IPL also manages a long term contract on behalf of Asda for the provision of its private label cooked meats.
Based in Normanton West Yorkshire, where it also runs a warehouse and packhouse operation for Fresh Produce, IPL also has a second site in Sittingbourne Kent which again handles Fresh Produce and in addition manages cheese, fresh pasta and pate. IPL operates a number of 'Country Offices' around the world whose role is to source product and provide technical and logistics management. Having people on the ground who can interact directly and easily with producers and manage quality, is a key differentiator for IPL and Wal-Mart.
IPL has ambitious plans to extend its product base and to supply more Wal-Mart retail markets. Recent initiatives have included the development of a wine business, bacon business, houseplants and flowers business and the extension of IPL’s remit in Fresh Produce for Asda.