Waitrose has laid the ground for a wave of new store openings across the south west of England, by securing a “multimillion” deal to open a new 360,000 sq ft distribution centre near Bristol.
Mountpark Bristol 360 will be the grocer’s first logistics hub in region. When it opens, “towards the end of 2026” it will supply an initial 50 of Waitrose’s existing stores, with capacity for more, the supermarket said.
Waitrose is targeting the south west region as one of its core growth areas, as part of its on going store expansion plan. Last month, it unveiled plans to open its first supermarket for nearly a decade in the new town of Brabazon, just outside Bristol in 2027.
It is also set to open a brand-new convenience store in the St Andrews area of the city later this year.
“This multimillion-pound investment is an important step in modernising our supply chain and setting us up to build the capacity needed for our growth plans,” said Alison Maffin, Waitrose supply chain director.
“It will enable us to better serve our customers in the region, more efficiently supply our existing shops and reduce our operating costs and carbon emissions. The modern and sustainable features of Mountpark’s Bristol 360 make it an excellent fit for our business.”
Waitrose currently has four regional distribution centres, at Aylesford in Kent, Bracknell in Berkshire, Leyland in Lancashire and Brinklow, near Coventry. It also has three national distribution centres in Milton Keynes, Greenford in London, and Reading, which serve all of its 330 shops across the UK.
Adding Mountpark would reduce its an annual mileage within its supply chain by an estimated 2,225 tonnes of CO2 annually, Waitrose claimed.
Read more: Why Waitrose is turning its focus to convenience again
The supermarket is working to find a third-party logistics partner to fit out and run the site.
“Waitrose’s commitment to Mountpark Bristol 360 is a strong endorsement of our ability to meet the demands of modern logistics from commercial performance to environmental responsibility,” said Bart Holt-Smith, Mountpark director of capital markets and development.
“We’re proud to be working with a brand of Waitrose’s calibre and delighted that our shared commitment to sustainability and quality aligns so closely. We look forward to welcoming this iconic British retailer and supporting its continued success in the region.”
It is the first major change to Waitrose’s logistics infrastructure since the closure of its dark store fulfilment centre in Enfield, London last year, with the loss of 500 roles.
No comments yet