Central Co-op to close distribution operation

Central England Co-operative is to close its 160,000ft² distribution facility in Leicestershire following a reorganisation of its distribution operation.

It currently operates three warehouses – two food distribution centres totalling 120,000 ft² and a chilled distribution centre totalling 42,000ft² on the Braunstone Frith Industrial Estate. It currently employs 400 people across the three warehouses.

Central England Co-op will join the LIDIA network, which is owned and operated by the Manchester based Co-Op Group on behalf of its own and independent Co-operative in the UK. The 13 DC network supplies upwards of 4,000 stores nationwide.

A spokesperson for Central England Co-op said: “To continue growing the society and where we support communities, we have given a lot of careful thought to the future needs of our distribution operations – including the age of our current network and its capability to fulfil the future needs in our strategy to improve the offer to members and customers.

“We looked at a number of options, including investing in a new purpose-built modern operation. Approval has been reached for Central Co-op to join the LIDIA network from 2024.”

*The Body Shop is to close its Corby warehouse where it  carried out its direct selling distribution operation Body Shop at Home following a downturn in demand. BSAH  took the space two years ago during lockdown as demand soared, now that  demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels the company is reorganising and will fulfil its BSAH customers from its site in West Sussex.

Source: .logisticsmanager.com