Stephensons invests £500,000 in new space

CATERING equipment supplier Stephensons is investing £500,000 expanding the size of its Stockport base by a third.

The business, which has a showroom and cash and carry facility on Buxton Road, is taking on a neighbouring site previously occupied by building services group Piggott & Whitfield which has moved to Rhino Court next to Stepping Hill Hospital.

It will increase the size of Stephensons’ headquarters from 20,000 sq ft to 30,000 sq ft, with the extra space initially being earmarked for storage.

The business is run by fifth generation family members Henry Stephenson and Julian Lewis-Booth.

Mr Stephenson, managing director, said: “We have recorded good growth over the last five years and, as such, our current site capacity has been severely stretched during busy seasonal periods.

“The expansion of our facility in Stockport will ease some of this pressure, allowing us to re-organise our picking locations to improve warehouse efficiency and to re-locate goods in, thereby separating it from goods out.

“With reduced warehouse pressure, our customers will receive an improved service, as well as even better prices as a result of our increased buying capability. We had begun seeking more space elsewhere, so are very pleased with this expansion as there will be no significant impact for our staff or for the large number of customers who like to use our cash and carry.”