Resources

Coles Supplier Central

Supply Standards

Our Dangerous Goods Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) provides information related to safely managing and transporting dangerous goods to Coles Distribution Centres.
The SOP only covers the period between dangerous goods being dispatched from your supply location and arriving at the distribution centre. It does not contain information about the storage or management of chemicals by suppliers or any information on distribution centre personnel receiving the goods.
This SOP applies to:

• Coles Collect customers
• Coles Collect carriers
• Coles Collect staff and contractors

Fuel pricing is based on the AIP Terminal Gate Price (TGP) for diesel fuel.
The (National Average) Fuel Levy Surcharge is based on the mode travelled being:

• Local
• Linehaul (Road)
• Rail
• Sea

The Coles Collect Rise & Fall is adjusted annually (usually in September) in line with movements in the indices below:

Unless pallets are delivered using the local Coles Fleet, where the transfer must be made directly to the distribution centre, please make sure they are transferred to the carrier's accounts.

In the case where a local carrier collects freight for linehaul by a second carrier, please make sure the transfer is made to the local carrier.

Please also note that

• Coles will accept either Chep or Loscam pallets but won't accept or exchange vendor's pallets.
• All transfer dockets must be stapled to the top of pickup paperwork.

A list of the distribution centre pallet account numbers can be found below.

Coles Collect customers can complete load confirmations within OneNet.
Order confirmations should occur on the day you place your order (however we will accept confirmation up till the nominated cut-off times).
Confirmations that occur after the nominated cut-off time place your order at risk.

Phone: 1300 732 552

As well as the requirement for SSCC labels, it is equally important to label pallets for transportation.

When a pallet is delivered into any cross-docking location, its destination needs to be accurately displayed so it can be quickly identified.

A clear pallet label reduces the risk of miss-directed freight and assists in dock-audits and end-of-day floor clearance.

How to use Destination Labels

These labels make your freight easily identifiable within our facilities.

Colour or black and white

• Our preference is for colour, with each state coloured as per the template, please do not use a different colour palette.
• If you are unable to provide colour labels, black and white labels will be accepted. Please ensure your freight will be easily identified at the various staging points.

Size of label

Our preferred size is A4 Minimum size A5

Label type / placement

• Self-sticking labels preferred.
• Plain paper labels should be placed behind the top layer of shrink wrapping.
• Both sides of the pallet should be labelled, with the label being placed on the left-hand side of the pallet.

Use of existing labels

• If you currently use a label that contains the required information then you can continue to use that, being mindful of the preferences outlined.
• If a current transport provider sends labels, again these can be used, but being mindful of the preferences outlined.
• In either case above you can send a copy of current labels for review to LogisticsSalesEnquiries@coles.com.au if you are unsure.

You do not need to label the following

• Any full load, to any destination.
• Any local State order, regardless of size.

Examples of landscape labels

The Coles Rebate Team sends weekly emails to notify customers of their upcoming charges and to ask them to check before the amounts are deducted.

The charges are deducted a month in arrears and occur within 2 weeks of the next month and can be viewed and downloaded either as a pdf or csv file by logging onto the supplier portal.

Suppliers can request access to the supplier portal by emailing our team at colessupermarketssupplierrelationships@coles.com.au

Coles, through the Australian Foods & Grocery Council, has joined with Woolworths & Metcash to develop the Common Delivery Standards.

The Common Delivery Standards are there to help suppliers prepare their goods for delivery into Woolworths, Coles and Metcash by highlighting all our common and aligned compliance and quality practices and standards.

By following these standards you'll reduce the risk of pallets and trade units not meeting required specifications. You'll also positively impact team member safety, costs to your business and transportation availability.

We've put together the diagrams below to help our suppliers understand the various terms used when calculating your freight requirements.

Coles Collect takes safety very seriously and strongly values businesses accepting their responsibilities and obligations that come with the safe movement of product on our roads. Details on commitments from Coles, as well as our carrier partners and suppliers can be found below.

Chain of Responsibility

The below template is for existing Coles Collect Customers who wish to set up a new pick-up facility. Please lodge via the link below or send directly to your Account Manager.

The below templates should be used to record rejection details and notify Coles Collect of the rejection through the CSM portal (Link Below)

Coles is continually reviewing the amount of packaging waste generated within our supply chain. As a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant we are committed to reducing our use of cardboard and making a positive impact on the environment.

To help support this, we recently outsourced our Returnable Plastic Crates (RPC) business to CHEP who have made a significant investment in state-of-the-art automated wash facilities. This partnership was entered into to continue expanding the use of RPCs for Fresh Produce, Meat and Deli etc.

The Coles Supply Chain receives millions of RPC units per year catering to supplier volumes and specific product requirements.

RPC base dimensions are 578mm x 385mm with heights between 94.5mm - 210.5mm is also available. CHEP operates a National RPC Network which includes five (5) HACCP-accredited automated wash sites (known as Resource Recovery Units or RRUs) and three (3) outside storage locations, with the aim to grow these to twenty (20). The RRUs are located near Coles DC sites so suppliers can collect RPCs as backhaul loads.

Coles Collect delivery options are also available. Crates can be ordered through CHEPs Asset Management Tracking System and should be ordered with a two (2) day lead time from a nominated RRU or Storage Location (Derrimut VIC, Glendenning NSW, Wetherill Park NSW, Townsville QLD, Carole Park QLD, Gilman SA, Kewdale WA, or Hobart TAS). Transfer will be managed through myCHEP. If you would like to start using Coles RPCs, or for more information about pallets and returnable assets please contact Coles Crates at colescrates@coles.com.au

The benefits of RPC may include:

• Reduced product handling
• Improved product quality
• Improved temperature control and airflow
• Improved transportation stability
• Less rejections, waste, and loss
• Reduced packaging inventory for suppliers
• Reduced packaging disposals and cost
• Environmental benefits from re-use vs single-use cardboard