The initial three-year contract will see Wincanton manage all warehouse and store delivery operations from the facility to new and existing stores in the surrounding area, supporting The Co-operative Group’s continued growth and development as one of the UK’s leading food retailers.
The new Regional Distribution Centre, will store stock ready for distribution to stores, and is expected to create new roles for around 500 people, including 170 drivers.
Ian Keilty, Managing Director, Retail & Consumer at Wincanton, said:
"We’re delighted to be working with The Co-operative Group to create a new Regional Distribution Centre.
"It will help The Co-op manage increasing demand and support their growth plans, while creating around 500 jobs for people in the surrounding area.
"We have drawn on our shared experience of working together for 25 years, creating a team from both businesses in order to develop a new distribution centre from inception to go-live in under six months – well done and thank you to all involved!
"This new contract underlines our position as the UK’s leading logistics provider for convenience retail and our ambition to support our customers to realise their ambitions in the rapidly growing convenience market."
A spokesperson from The Co-op said:
"During our long-standing relationship, Wincanton has delivered a proactive service on projects like this previously. We have confidence in them to deliver an efficient start up for this new facility in support of our growth and this was a key reason for their selection."
The new agreement is in addition to Wincanton’s contract to service The Co-op’s logistics depots; Lea Green, Merseyside and Cardinal, Cambridgeshire. On those contracts, Wincanton employs 670 staff and a fleet of over 500 vehicles, making 110,000 journeys each year to up to 800 stores nationwide.