Sainsbury’s is opening a new one million sq ft distribution facility in Daventry, which will be operated by DHL and is set to create more than 900 jobs.
Located at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, in Northamptonshire, the site will use both automation and conventional assembly methods, to support Sainsbury’s growing general merchandise business.
It will open in two phases; low bay operations will start in early 2015 with a 150,000 pallet high bay operation following later in the year.
“This distribution centre represents a significant investment for Sainsbury’s, as we are always looking at ways to serve our customers better,” said logistics director, Richard Fleming.
“This depot will provide us with a central location to support our growing general merchandise business, which is growing at twice the rate of food.”
It will recycle all general waste and include features such as rainwater harvesting, and vehicle charging points in the car park, to also support the company’s 20×20 sustainability scheme.
The move marks the 29th year of the relationship between Sainsbury’s and DHL.
Sainsbury’s announced that it was taking the site at Prologis’s Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal in October last year.
