Dozens of fire fighters were called to tackle a massive blaze at Primark UK’s 440,000 sq ft / 40,920 sq m warehouse at Lutterworth, last Tuesday evening. The clothing manufacturer which is owned by Associated British Foods has announced that up to half of its stock has been destroyed.
Cris Stephenson, divisional managing director of TNT Fashion Group, the retail distribution division of TNT Express Services, says: “Thanks to our well-practised safety procedures employees were quickly evacuated from the building and no-one was injured.”
Primark’s existing stock and distribution operations, which are managed by TNT, has been transferred to a nearby back-up 600,000 sq ft warehouse on the same industrial estate. A spokesperson commented that TNT has put contingencies in place and that they were working hard and fast to bring up supplies from wherever and however to get stock in.
Jeff Lancaster from Primark says: “We couldn’t say that there won’t be certain lines that might be short in certain stores…but we are doing everything possible to make sure our contingency plan does exactly what it is supposed to do.”
TNT comment: “Fifteen trailers carrying new stock are delivering to the building today and normal service is expected to have resumed by tomorrow (Thursday).”
The damage was described as “extensive” by Sean O’Connell of Leicestershire fire service.
The warehouse off the A4303 Lutterworth bypass has been in operation for about five years and although owned and managed by TNT, is a dedicated Primark unit. Primark is fully insured both for stock loss and business interruption and
The cause of the fire is currently being assessed,
