The Sony DADC warehouse at Solar Way in Enfield was burned to the ground as rioters took to the streets of London on Monday night.
Eleven fire engines and around 55 fire fighters were called to a fire in the two storey warehouse and offices at 23:49 on Monday. The building, which has partially collapsed, was completely destroyed by the fire which raged through the night.
The fire was only brought under control at 11 o’clock on Tuesday morning, although plume of smoke was still travelling south east from the site and residents were advised to stay indoors.
Sony DADC Digital Audio Disc Corporation is a disc and digital solution provider for the entertainment, education and information industries. The Enfield site is the centre of its distribution network for the entire UK. It also carries out services such as order and inventory management, pick pack and ship, and finishing on demand.
The Metropolitan Police said that the fire is being treated as suspicious, in the wake of the vandalism and looting that has plagued towns and cities across the country since unrest erupted in Tottenham on Saturday.
The distribution centre also provided physical distribution for PIAS, which distributes music for a number of small labels, in the UK and Ireland.
In a statement PIAS said: “PIAS is working closely with SonyDADC who are implementing their emergency plans. PIAS’s UK offices in London and all other areas of our business are unaffected.”
* DHL has confirmed that some of its deliveries to London have been disrupted in the localised areas in the Capital where shops have been looted or burnt out. Its operations have not been hampered, but it says: “We are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting confirmation from the authorities regarding potential road closures in London.”
* Argos has confirmed that 18 stores in total were affected and suffered various degrees of damage. It will be taking precautionary measures such as earlier closing times in potentially affected areas.
* In January last year Sony DADC began an investment programme at Enfield in response to moves by customers away from bulk buying to ordering little and often.
This included creation of an additional 1,800 sq m mezzanine floor within the distribution centre, 8,000 carton live flow rack locations and 800 metres of “box to man” conveyor system.
