Urgent Request for Improved Bread Delivery Scheduling – Sasko Low GI Whole Wheat Brown Bread

Dear Consumer Care Team,

I am writing to formally raise a long-standing issue regarding the availability of Sasko Low GI Whole Wheat Brown Bread at Uitkyk Vleismark in Silverton, Pretoria, my primary grocery store. As a loyal customer of both Sasko and Uitkyk, I am deeply frustrated by the constant struggle to find this specific bread in stock.

I shop at Uitkyk Vleismark almost daily and purchase 90% of my daily household groceries there. However, without exaggeration, 3 out of 5 times, my preferred Sasko Low GI Whole Wheat Brown Bread is unavailable at the store, forcing me to drive an additional 1.8 km to Pick n Pay at Silverwater Crossing, Silverton, where it is consistently in stock. This ongoing issue creates unnecessary inconvenience, extra fuel costs, and wasted time, all while diminishing my trust in Sasko's supply consistency.

Upon further discussions at the store, I understand that when additional stock is ordered, unsold loaves often have to be returned, leading to challenges with inventory management. While I acknowledge the challenges of inventory management, I believe the late afternoon delivery schedule at Uitkyk Vleismark could be significantly contributing to the low turnover of this product. If the bread were delivered earlier in the day, it could possibly have a greater chance of being purchased while still fresh, reducing returns and improving both sales and customer satisfaction. To illustrate the issue:

On January 28th, I purchased an available loaf, which had an expiry date of February 4th. By January 31st, I bought the remaining loaves. On February 5th at 14:00, no new delivery had arrived at Uitkyk Vleismark. This suggests an unnecessary gap in supply, leaving a staple product out of stock for extended periods. Meanwhile, Pick n Pay, in the same suburb, at least according to me, never experiences these shortages—indicating a more efficient delivery schedule or prioritization.

I am requesting that Sasko:

Prioritize earlier deliveries of Sasko Low GI Whole Wheat Brown Bread at Uitkyk Vleismark to increase its availability, visibility and sales potential. Review the delivery frequency and stock allocation to ensure consistent availability of this product. This issue is not just about personal inconvenience but also about fair service to Uitkyk Vleismark, which, as a dedicated Sasko stockist, deserves a more strategic supply chain approach. Additionally, by failing to maintain a steady presence of Sasko on their shelves, Sasko risks losing customer preference to competing brands like Albany, whose availability and timeous delivery, remains more reliable.

I trust that Pioneer Foods values customer loyalty and will take immediate action to rectify this situation. Please confirm receipt of this email and advise on what steps, if any, will be taken to address this matter.