A delivery schedule is the agreed timetable listing the quantities, dates and destinations of consignments to be made under a contract over a defined period, serving as the primary tool for coordinating production, logistics and intake planning.
In trade practice
Suppliers use the delivery schedule to plan harvest, processing and cold store allocation, while buyers align it with production runs or retail promotional windows. Contracts typically define a tolerance band around each scheduled date, expressed as a number of working days either side, within which delivery is deemed on time. Early delivery can be as problematic as late delivery if the buyer’s cold store is at capacity, so the schedule should address both scenarios. Rescheduling requests should be made in writing with a minimum notice period stated in the contract.
In a specification
The contract or schedule annex should state the tolerance band for each delivery date, the procedure and notice period for rescheduling, and whether repeated late deliveries constitute a material breach.