London, UK — November 11, 2025 — Bakers Basco is advancing its reusable equipment recovery and misuse prevention programme with the introduction of a new generation of GPS trackers featuring geo-fencing capability. Following successful trials, the organisation will double the number of trackers in the field, deploying them across its network of reusable transit packaging, including bread baskets and dollies, to better prevent misuse, theft, and misplacement.
New Geo-Fencing Trackers Enhance Supply Chain Visibility
The new trackers, supplied by Southgate Global, incorporate a virtual geo-fence boundary that triggers alerts when equipment moves outside a designated area. The system enables real-time monitoring and faster response times. Crucially, the devices feature a two-year battery life—outlasting the previous generation used by Bakers Basco—and perform reliably in a range of logistics environments.
“After rigorous assessment, our geo-fencing trial proved unequivocal: the new trackers offer better durability, responsiveness and operational control than anything we’ve used before,” said Stacey Brown, National Investigations Manager at Bakers Basco. “Doubling deployment means we can better protect member assets, recover more equipment and deter misuse proactively. These tools strengthen our entire recovery and supply chain capability.”
Southgate Global, a leading specialist in the design and supply of fulfilment and operational equipment, partnered closely with Bakers Basco to customise the hardware for real-world logistics demands. The company’s focus on innovation and reliability made it a strong fit for the programme’s expansion.
“In designing these units for Bakers Basco, we prioritised longevity, accuracy and adaptability,” said Kevin Oakes of Southgate Global. “The geo-fencing function gives Bakers Basco actionable location intelligence and the two-year battery ensures consistent performance without frequent replacement. We’re proud to support this next-generation upgrade for such an important national initiative.”
The Role of Geo-Tracking in Reusable Packaging Management
Geo-tracking and geo-fencing technologies are transforming how companies manage reusable packaging systems. By fitting GPS-enabled devices to bread baskets, pallets, or bulk containers, logistics teams can monitor asset movement in real time across the entire supply chain.
A geo-fence creates a virtual perimeter around designated areas such as depots, retail outlets, or regional distribution zones. When equipment crosses that boundary, the system automatically triggers an alert. This data-driven visibility helps prevent misuse and theft while improving accountability for reusable transit packaging.
Benefits of Geo-Tracking for Circular Supply Chains
- Improved equipment recovery: rapid detection and retrieval of misplaced or stolen items.
- Lower replacement costs: extending asset lifecycles through tighter control and faster recovery.
- Enhanced circularity: ensuring packaging remains in active use rather than lost or scrapped.
As reusable packaging gains ground across logistics and manufacturing, GPS and sensor technologies are becoming integral to efficient asset management. Real-time tracking supports a tighter, more transparent circular supply chain—one in which every basket, dolly, or bin can be traced, recovered, and reused for maximum environmental and economic benefit.
Bakers Basco Strengthens Its Circular Recovery Network
With this rollout, Bakers Basco reinforces its leadership in reusable packaging asset tracking and recovery within the bakery supply chain. The organisation expects to achieve lower equipment losses, tighter operational control, and improved sustainability outcomes through fewer replacements and greater reuse of assets.
Read more at our reusable retail packaging hub.
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Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.