Yeo Valley research project kicks off

Cardiff Business School has partnered with Yeo Valley, the largest organic dairy producer in the UK, on a project to streamline the company’s forecasting, planning and replenishment systems.

The £220,000 two-year collaborative project is being led by Dr Laura Purvis, Professor Stephen Disney and Professor Aris Syntetos, from the School’s Logistics and Operations Management section.

This new project and partnership enables the School and Yeo Valley to conduct research into flexible and resilient operations and supply chain management strategies.

Dr Purvis explains the ambitions of the project: “The project will identify a range of strategies, efficiencies and innovations that will deliver benefit to Yeo Valley, which filters through to its local supply chain. It is important to us to ensure that the value derived from our research is shared and contributes to maintaining and expanding manufacturing in the UK.”

Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, added: “This is an exciting new development and we look forward to working closely with Yeo Valley.

“Cardiff Business School is proud of its research reputation and the range of relationships and collaborations we have established with industry partners. We are results-driven and, in line with our public value strategy, focused on achieving real social, economic and business improvement. I wish Laura, Stephen, Aris and the Yeo Valley team all good wishes as their work gets underway.”

The project officially commenced in May 2017 and the recruitment process for a Research Associate is underway. The Research Associate will be embedded into Yeo Valley for the duration of the two-year project and work collaboratively, and in consultation, with the Cardiff Business School team. During the course of the project it is likely that a series of workshops with various stakeholders from Yeo Valley, as well as their extended supply chain (suppliers and customers), will be held.

Yeo Valley currently employs more than 1,800 people and is an outstanding case study of how a brand has achieved significant business growth while maintaining its authenticity and supporting the values of local organic producers sourcing from local suppliers. This local, sustainable and socially-minded approach aligns well with Cardiff Business School’s public value mission. Read more about the School’s public value activity.