Marks & Spencer has announced that it is investing £200 million in DP World’s London Gateway, with a new distribution centre set to create 700 jobs.
The new global shipping gateway, located on the Thames, 25 miles from Central London, in South Essex, is due to open late this year.
M&S will now be able to move millions of products directly from ships to its new 900,000 sq ft site at the adjacent London Gateway Logistics Park.
The company said the port’s location gives it closer access to key UK cities, meaning goods will not travel as far to reach consumers, reducing costs as well as millions of road miles and thousands of tonnes of CO2.
Along with the 700 jobs to be created for South Essex, hundreds of additional workers will be employed during the facility’s construction phase.
“London Gateway will become our third large distribution centre in the UK as we transform our logistics operations into a modern and agile supply chain, fit for the future of M&S, said chief executive Marc Bolland.
“As we become an international, multi-channel retailer, London Gateway will help us become more efficient by cutting costs and locating our supply chain closer to our stores and our international markets.
“It will also help us deliver against our Plan A objectives by removing road miles and emissions from our network.”
Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the news during a visit to the site on Monday 10th June.
Construction of the new facility will begin in 2014, subject to planning.
