By Murray Brabender
Opened up new markets and operations
This year, we delivered digital supply chain solutions that continued to give our clients a competitive edge. Leveraging our international footprint in Canada, the US and UK, we helped international businesses enter new markets. Alongside the growth of our capabilities and the markets we serve, our operational footprint expanded by 1.5 million square feet to 15 million square feet and we reached more than 100 facilities.
Our secure, rail-connected facilities continued to support the needs of our advanced manufacturing, automotive and defence clients, while our high-security distribution networks allow us to run world-class operations for businesses needing to move regulated goods.
Became one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies
In 2023, Metro Supply Chain was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for our strategic expertise, culture of innovation and commitment to our people and local communities. Receiving the Best Managed designation is thanks to our 6,000-strong team across North America and the UK who help our clients build a better future by continually innovating our thinking and practices.
Advanced business through digitization
We saw demand for digital technology, automation and robotics rise significantly in 2023, as organizations across North America and Europe turned to us for help in unlocking needed business value in a particularly challenging economic climate. We delivered innovations that increased storage capacity, productivity, safety and visibility for our clients, in addition to real-time analytics that provided them with vital insights into their operations.
Our continued investment in digitization helped us handle almost 330 million contract packing units for leading brands. In 2023, we successfully onboarded clients to our "Ecomm-in-a-Box™" tech solution and continued to offer businesses two-day e-commerce delivery across the US.
Grew our Last-Mile network
To help our clients reach their customers quicker and more effectively, we grew our parcel deliveries by 80% in 2023. We also continued our position as the largest custom delivery network of big and bulky goods in Canada, reaching 98% of postal codes. As we move towards unified delivery, our Quick Contractors team installed almost 324,000 appliances across North America.
Expertly handled returns and repairs
In 2023, Metro Supply Chain surveyed UK retailers to learn about their biggest challenges. This research showed 69% of them are concerned with managing returns. To support, this year we continued to offer UK retailers warranty claims and repair services, in addition to sortation, product returns and repatriation to the European Union. We also helped businesses resell returned and end-of-line products on global e-commerce platforms.
Outside of the UK, our Canadian and US businesses offered robust reverse logistics solutions dedicated to delivering an exceptional consumer experience.
Developed and celebrated our team
With our culture at the heart of what we do, our team found many ways to celebrate their successes in 2023. Twelve more people joined our Club 25 program, which launched in 2022 to thank employees who have worked with us for 25 years or more. We also recognized exceptional sites and team members in our annual Gold and Site Awards for their operational excellence and safety.
Advanced our sustainability
Committed to ensuring our operations are sustainable for future generations, in 2023 Metro Supply Chain focused on practices, policies and activities that reduce our emissions, support social equity, give back to local communities, and embrace safe and welcoming workplaces. We published nine strategic environmental, social and governance commitments, and established a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions baseline and report. We were also certified by the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) as a minority-owned business and became a CAMSC corporate member. To strengthen our positive impact, we partnered with organizations focused on supporting youth mental health, gender justice and food insecurity.
Thank you to everyone who worked with us in 2023. We look forward to growing our relationships in 2024.
