M&S is increasing its online capacity for Christmas through a 30% increase in staffing numbers, alongside the roll-out of automation technologies, at its Leicestershire distribution centre.
The retailer said it had hired 400 new permanent members of staff since Jul, and more than 500 fixed term positions have been created at its Castle Donington distribution centre for Christmas.
Its Castle Donington facility will be run by a team of 4,000 over Christmas 2020, approximately a 30% increase on the 3,000 members of staff required during Christmas 2019.
Last year M&S completed the build of a 245,000 sq ft mezzanine floor at the DC and the record despatch from the mezzanine last year was 50,000 single items. This year it said it was targeting 75,000 items picked and packed from the mezzanine area, after it increased pick and pack efficiencies by 15% following route analysis in the DC.
