Homewares retailer The Range has opened a new £100 million state-of-the-art distribution centre in Avonmouth, Bristol this week, creating 1,000 new jobs in the region.
The distribution hub is one of the largest in the UK at 1.2 million sq feet in size and has been developed to support the company’s existing 140 stores, as well as 30 new stores planned for this year and future growth across Europe.
The hub is delivered by Stoford Developments and managed by DHL and adds to the retailer’s ecommerce distribution centre in the Midlands, also managed by DHL.
The new distribution centre will include new materials handling equipment (MHE) technology, enabling The Range’s fleet of forklift trucks to operate with heightened caution in restricted spaces and areas of populated activity to improve health and safety at the site.
Founder and owner of The Range, Chris Dawson said: “I am tremendously proud of everyone who has worked to get this exciting project ready on schedule. This new, innovative distribution centre will allow us to expand to further locations around Europe while evolving our ecommerce division and providing an even better service in store and online to our local and global customers.”
Birmingham-based Stoford Developments was appointed as development partner whilst McLaren Construction built the unit.
John Boulter, MD UKI retail of DHL Supply Chain, said: “We have worked closely with The Range over the last five years and are delighted to build on our relationship with the management of the Avonmouth distribution centre, the fifth site under DHL’s management.
This distribution centre is set to substantially improve the logistics infrastructure and reduce transport mileage and carbon emissions by 30%. Accompanied by the new warehouse’s state-of-the-art technological capabilities and DHL’s experience and scale, The Range will have a strong foundation for its exciting expansion plans,” he said.
Image credit: DHL Supply Chain
