Vanco still the Real McCoy

United Biscuits extends deal with Virtual Network Operator Vanco, the pioneering global Virtual Network Operator (VNO), is pleased to announce that United Biscuits (‘UB’), a leading European manufacturer of biscuits, crisps and snacks, has signed a new multimillion pound four-year contract for the continued outsourcing of its Wide Area Network.

UB, which owns a number of well known consumer brands including McVitie’s, Hula Hoops, McCoy’s and Jaffa Cakes, originally signed a three-year agreement in 2003, which saw Vanco replace four existing corporate networks with a single MPLS, ADSL and Internet VPN solution across six countries, increasing bandwidth by 30% with costs maintained at the previous level. The new deal cements the relationship until 2009 and sees additional cost savings, as well as business-led network alterations being made to the network.

Central to Vanco’s solution for UB bandwidth efficiency measures, including ‘Active Backup’, Vanco’s Policy Based Routing techniques used to direct non-critical data, such as email and Internet browsing, across Internet infrastructure freeing up the main core network for business critical applications such as SAP and JD Edwards. The innovative design means that UB are able to maximise use of the back-up as well as primary infrastructure under normal operating conditions.

In 2003 UB described the flexible solution Vanco was to put in place as a ‘change enabler’ rather than a ‘constraint on the development of their business’ – vital in their fast-moving, consumer-focused sector. Their ongoing successful growth in key European markets is evidence of their successful business strategy underpinned by a flexible, cost effective network connecting a range of sites.

Vanco UK MD Mark Thompson commented, “UB continues to benefit from an incredibly flexible network that is ideally suited to their business needs. UB is typical of customers who originally selected Vanco two or three years ago and benefited from the quick wins that our unique model offers, but are now seeing the benefits of ongoing savings while being free to continue to modify their network infrastructure providers and underlying technology.”

UB’s IT Director, Clare Blackburn, commented, “Vanco’s VNO approach means that our network is never holding back the ambitious plans of a brand that has to react quickly to changes in consumer tastes and lifestyles: our VNO network keeps up with our challenges. Meanwhile, the day to day service levels that Vanco achieves means that we can concentrate on our business safe in the knowledge that our WAN is in excellent hands.”

source : Vanco