French sports retailer, Decathlon, has acquired its first UK distribution Centre.
The company has taken the 190,000 sq ft former Tesco warehouse in Brackmills, Northamptonshire which became vacant following the recent opening of Tesco’s new 850,000 sq ft rail served distribution centre at DIRFT2.
Lambert Smith Hampton advised Tesco, while Decathlon represented itself.
The building is currently being fitted out by Decathlon and will become fully operational later in the year.
The facility will be utilised to supply Decathlon’s existing UK store network (currently comprising 14 stores) and will also operate as its national internet fulfilment centre.
Decathlon spokesman, Ricardo Rodriguez, said: “This distribution centre is ideally and strategically located to service our existing store network and also the proposed expansion of Decathlon’s business across the UK over the next few years.
“Decathlon sees significant potential and opportunity for expansion in the UK.”
Michael Alderton of LSH added: “This letting confirms the improving market conditions and underlying demand for modern existing distribution facilities in prime locations, such as the M1 corridor, particularly from retailers seeking supply chain efficiencies and the expansion of internet operations.”