Gousto takes West Thurrock big shed

Recipe box company Gousto has pre-let its second big shed in as many weeks after securing a 10 year lease on a 196,178 sq ft unit in West Thurrock.

Gousto snapped up Mountpark Logistics’ 307,807 sq ft distribution centre at Mountpark Warrington Omega II in the North West only two weeks ago.

The move follows rapid expansion due to lockdown. The company reported strong trading from the start of the year, with revenues for the first quarter reaching 70% year-on-year growth – within the first six months of 2020 Gousto reported that revenue surpassed the £83m of sales recorded for the whole of 2019.

The company is looking to at least triple capacity by 2022.

Timo Boldt, chief executive and founder of Gousto, said: “The recent lockdown accelerated structural trends which were already firmly underway, opening up the recipe box market to a far larger audience.

“Now, even as lockdown eases, we’ve maintained record sales, with new customers won over by our market leading choice and variety, and the convenience of having fresh ingredients delivered to their door with no hassle or food waste.”

The West Thurrock facility is known as Chillbox and is temperature-controlled. It has undergone a major refurbishment including an upgraded Ammonia Glycol chiller plant. There are four individually controlled chiller chambers and the 32 ceiling-mounted coolers to ensure each chamber is at a temperature of +1 -3 degree centigrade. The facility also includes a two-storey office, welfare suite and ample car parking spaces.

The building is located on the Tunnel Estate close to Junction 30 of the M25 motorway and the A13.

CBRE Global Investors acted on behalf of the landlord, CBRE UK Property PAIF at Thurrock. Sovereign Centros, DTRE and BNP advised CBRE Global Investors. SBH represented Gousto.

Its new facility in North West is planned to go live at the end of 2021. CBRE and JLL acted for Mountpark and Gousto was represented by SBH.

Construction at Mountpark Warrington Omega II started earlier this year and the first two units of 307,807 sq ft and 203,180 sq ft are on schedule to complete in January 2021. The third unit, totalling 225,000 sq ft, is programmed to complete in summer 2021. Mountpark Warrington Omega II is at the gateway to Omega South, part of the 575 acre mixed use Omega scheme at Junction 8 of the M62 north of Warrington.