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Mar 24, 2026 at 9:22 AM
The Henderson Group, a significant wholesale and retail company in Northern Ireland, has optimized its warehouse operations through the implementation of Zetes‘ Full Pallet Inventory (FPI) solution. This measure aims to enhance efficiency in the warehouse and improve the accuracy of inventory data. The implementation is part of a partnership between the Henderson Group and Zetes that has lasted over 20 years, focusing on optimizing logistics processes.
The Henderson Group operates five wholesale warehouses that serve both Henderson Wholesale and Henderson Foodservice. While Henderson Wholesale supplies independent and company-owned stores, Henderson Foodservice caters to restaurants, hotels, and schools. The company faced challenges, including misallocated pallets, inaccurate inventory data, and slow inventory processes. These issues led to delays, increased labor costs, and difficulties in maintaining optimal inventory levels. To address these challenges, the Henderson Group opted for Zetes‘ FPI solution, which enables real-time monitoring of inventory data and minimizes operational disruptions.
Technological Implementation and Benefits
Zetes‘ FPI system is equipped with a forklift-mounted ImageID Machine Vision station that captures pallet and barcode data at speeds of up to 10 km/h. This solution is seamlessly integrated into the Henderson Group’s Warehouse Management System (WMS), ensuring increased accuracy through real-time transparency. This minimizes misallocated inventory and reduces write-offs for expired products. The automated scanning proves to be more efficient compared to manual processes, leading to increased efficiency and reduced operating costs. Additionally, the system complies with regulatory requirements by providing verifiable, time-stamped images that meet quality control standards.
Another advantage of the FPI system is its ease of use, which requires no extensive training. This allows for quick onboarding of temporary workers, which is significant for the Henderson Group, as frequently changing labor is a part of daily operations. The mobile design of the system enables the company to easily relocate the FPI system between the five warehouses.
Philip Mehaffey, Logistics Director at Henderson Foodservice Ltd., emphasizes the long-standing collaboration with Zetes: “As part of our partnership, we have continuously integrated new supply chain technologies to optimize our warehouse processes. Full Pallet Inventory has transformed our inventory control. The project was originally based on a three-year plan, but it paid off after just two years, one year earlier than planned.”
