Sainsbury’s has followed Tesco in hiking its primary distribution charges in response to rising haulier rates driven by the HGV driver shortage.
The 2.9% increase was revealed in a letter to the supermarket’s primary suppliers. The additional charge is on the cost of the third party haulage service used to collect goods from supplier depots and deliver them to distribution centres.
Suppliers have been given 12 weeks’ notice of the additional surcharge.
The rate hike will be applied from October and comes on the back of a rates hike by Culina subsidiary Warrens Group, which is a Sainsbury’s primary haulier distribution partner.
Sainsbury’s decision follows that of Tesco earlier this month, which saw the supermarket giant hike rates for some suppliers by 14%.
