Toshiba has announced a new supply chain deal which involves outsourcing its production of semiconductors to a rival company.

The electronics giant is restructuring its chip-related operations and is looking to concentrate its resources in other markets.

Analysts believe Toshiba’s decision to outsource production is driven by a need to cut costs in the LSI chip market which is dominated by Intel.

LSI chips contain a microprocessor and are at the heart of many consumer electronics devices. The supply chain deal will free up Toshiba to concentrate on building memory chips for smartphones, as well as the LCD displays for Apple’s iPhone device.

Both Toshiba and Samsung refused to comment on the value of the supply chain deal, which took effect on January 1st.

Marcus Evans presents supply chain, procurement and logistics events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

Online retailer Amazon has significantly enhanced its supply chain, procurement and logistics capability in southern Europe, with the opening of a new logistics hub in Montelimar.

Previously the company had a single logistics base at Saran in the Loiret department, but the new 36,000 metre squared facility considerably expands Amazon’s presence in France.

In due course, the firm plans to increase its French workforce to two thousand, according to Analytiqa, as the Montelimar logistics hub begins to service customers in southern France and the rest of southern Europe, including Spain and Italy.

The facility was opened on November 19 by Amazon France chief executive Xavier Garambois and industry minister Eric Besson.

Earlier this month, Mr Garambois warned that the price of ebooks would need to be some 30 to 40 per cent lower than printed books if the market is to take off in Europe.

Marcus Evans presents supply chain, procurement and logistics events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

One of Europe’s leading retail and consumer goods groups has expressed caution about the outlook for the sector.

Despite bringing first half losses back within the expectations of its recover plans, much of Dixons Retail’s increase in sales occurred in the first quarter of 2010, new figures show.

The company – which owns Currys and PC World in the UK, and other retail chains in Italy, Scandinavia and Greece – has reported flat sales for the first half of the year and will not be paying a dividend to shareholders.

However, Dixons has reported that it is on track to achieve cost savings of £50 million for the year.

Dixons’ caution will be noted by the rest of the retail and consumer goods sector, as it heads into its pre-Christmas best period for sales.

Marcus Evans presents retail and consumer goods events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

Ambitious plans for sales and operations along with a £50 million budget saving for supply chain, have been outlined by the new chief executive of Marks & Spencer.

Marc Bolland used the half year results of the firm in forecasting the growth of M&S.

In particular he mentioned that a change in capacity would be undertaken as the firm is planning to step up its growth into overseas markets.

Mr Bolland’s vision for the future of their supply chain solutions is to take on greater control from within.

He said: "By 2015 we will aim to have a supply base comprising 35 per cent FSV suppliers and 65 per cent direct."

Marcus Evans presents supply chain and logistics events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

Christmas retail sales are expected to be “at least as good as last year” according to a recent survey.

The British Retail Consortium found almost two-thirds of retailers surveyed believe sales this Christmas will be the same or better than 2009. The findings come despite the financial pressures of this year and recent disruptions to high street trading caused by snow.

Retailers are offering hefty discounts to boost spending before the rise in VAT to 20 per cent in January. The survey showed 71 per cent believe the January tax increase is leading customers to bring forward purchases.

Department store John Lewis said it achieved a new sales record last week after takings of £121 million. And this weekend Bluewater shopping centre saw 250,000 visitors looking for bargains.

Marcus Evans presents retail and consumer goods events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

DHL Supply Chain has beaten fierce competition from seven of its rivals to secure a multi-million pound logistics agreement.

DIY giant B&Q has said that for two years DHL will handle its warehousing and distribution solutions, beginning in February of 2012.

The triumph for the supply chain firm comes five months after B&Q said it was planning to review its warehousing and logistics strategy.

DHL will now take care of an estimated one million cases per week at the new £77 million distribution centre in Swindon.

Vice president of non food retail at DHL, Jon Wood said that under the new contract DHL is looking forward to creating synergies and removing cost from B&Q’s supply chain.

Marcus Evans supply chain, procurement, and logistics events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

The Carphone Warehouse has chosen supply chain and logistics firm Wincanton to handle deliveries to its stores.

The five year deal will see Wincanton collect mobile phones and laptops from the retailer’s hub in the West Midlands and deliver products to its 800 outlets.

The deal was helped by the logistics firm’s existing partnership with Best Buy which is a joint partner of the Carphone Warehouse. Wincanton was awarded a supply chain and distribution contract with Best Buy Europe in March.

Managing director Gordon Scott believes "this partnership confirms Wincanton’s leadership in the retail sector and demonstrates our commitment to delivering service excellence to customers."

Other clients of Wincanton include consumer goods giants such as Nestle, Unilever and Philips. The firm recently renewed contracts with Britvic and Adidas.

Marcus Evans presents supply chain and logistics events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.

More than 70 per cent of organisations in the UK say they have suffered some form of supply chain disruptions within the last year.

The survey, performed by the Business Continuity Institute found that although knowledge of the risks found in supply chain logistics is improving, too many businesses are still liable to a strong degree of risk.

The survey from the Institute is called the Supply Chain Resilience 2010, and is sponsored by Zurich – covering 35 countries, across 15 sectors within the economy.

Adverse weather was said to be the main cause of disruption – with 53 per cent identifying things like the harsh winter from last January.

For some unfortunate firms, 20 per cent said their brand was tarnished because of supply chain disruptions.

Marcus Evans supply chain, procurement, and logistics events, created by experienced professionals and with information presented by industry experts.