Home retailer Dunelm is to move to a 525,000 sq ft warehouse near Stoke-on-Trent.
It has agreed a build to suit deal with Prologis and joint venture partner Wittington Investments (Developments) for the distribution centre at Prologis Park Sideway near Stoke-on-Trent.
Dunelm was founded in 1979 selling curtains on a Leicester market stall. Today, the major focus is out-of-town and multi-channel retailing of homewares. It has grow to operate from 136 out-of-town superstores, and seven high streets. It also offers on-line, mobile, catalogue, telephone ordering and reserve and collect propositions.
When Dunelm released its annual results in September last year chief executive Will Adderley said: “We have made further changes to our central warehouse operations to allow more store-efficient deliveries and also to support the increased volume of merchandise flowing through our own supply chain, driven by store expansion and the continuing move towards direct sourcing. However, our long term planning suggests that our rate of growth will require us to invest in enlarged central warehousing facilities in the medium term, and we are currently developing detailed plans for this project.”
Its new building has been designed to achieve a minimum BREEAM ‘very good’ accreditation and an EPC ‘A’ rating. Construction will begin this spring with completion scheduled for early 2016.
Andrew Griffiths of Prologis said: “Prologis has a strong relationship with Dunelm, so we are delighted that we are working with the company to expand its operations at Stoke-on-Trent. Prologis Park Sideway is one of the few locations in the West Midlands that can accommodate a building of this size and because we have invested in the site, we can start construction immediately. We are always very pleased when our detailed preparation means we can deliver the opportunities our customers are seeking.”
JLL and North Rae Sanders acted for Prologis and Wittington.
