New partnerships bolster Sony DADC after Enfield fire

Sony DADC has teamed up with fellow distributors Cert Octavian and Cinram to help get its operations back on track after its Enfield distribution centre was lost.

The company’s facility – a multi-storey 24,000 square metre complex – was burned down on August 8th during the UK riots. It was one of five logistics sites that make up Sony DADC’s pan-European network.

Sony DADC has since resumed operations, using warehouse space granted by its two new partners. The bulk of products that would have been handled through Enfield will now be managed out of Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, where Cert Octavian has offer the firm use of its main hub.

The rest of Sony DADC’s services – including pick, pack and ship, returns management and value-added services for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – will be handled at Cinram’s facility in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

All of Sony DADC’s staff that were employed in Enfield will remain with the company and support from one of these two interim locations.

"Within an hour after the incident at Enfield, Sony DADC’s Disaster Recovery Plan was in place and enabled a crisis team to start action," said UK MD Darren Houghton.

"As quickly as August 9th, we started to re-manufacture destroyed product and expanded direct-to-retail shipments form our Southware production facility, which was not affected by the riots.

"Our supply chain IT solution proved to be a robust and a strong backbone. By utilizing a multi-site approach, it guarantted that not a single order or Electronic Data Interchange was lost, and all IT systems and services were up and running and not affected by the fires.

"The level of support we have received from our customers, Sony affiliate companies, local distribution centres and other companies from within the industry has been remarkable. Without it, such a fast reaction to market demands would not have been achieved."